Benchill

Benchill is a district of the city of Manchester, England, part of the massive Wythenshawe council estate, approximately eight miles (c. 12 km) south of Manchester City Centre.

In 2000, Benchill was named in the Index of Multiple Deprivation as the most deprived ward out of 8414 in England^[1] (the Index is a governmental measure of local employment, income, health, education, housing, child poverty, and availability of local services). Since the release of the index, several schemes have been set up to assist the residents of Benchill.

Following a review by the Boundary Committee for England, Benchill was disestablished as a local government ward in 2003, and the area was divided between the neighbouring wards of Sharston, Woodhouse Park, and Northenden.

The area also gained national media attention in February 2007 when Conservative Party leader David Cameron visited the estate, only to be targeted by a group of youths, one of whom made a gun gesture with his hand towards him that was caught on film.^[2]

Benchill is policed by the Wythenshawe Neighbourhood Policing Team.

References

1. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/whatever-happened-to-the-hoodie-cameron-told-us-to-hug-1944065.html
2. "Hoodie pic 'proves Cameron point'". BBC News. 23 February 2007.

Coordinates: 53°23′19″N 2°15′47″W / 53.38855°N 2.26309°W