People want facilities to match local spirit
JAMES WOOD, 54, unemployed labourer, Easterhouse: It’s just what I know, I’ve lived here all my life.
There’s a lot of bad stuff happening in the area like gangs.
The council should have more facilities for young people so they don’t get caught up in it all, there is not many facilities nowadays.
There needs to be more facilities for people who are unemployed, if you can’t do the computer stuff today you are out of work.
I will be voting. CHLOE PARK, 23, accountant, Easterhouse: I think it’s great. There’s a lot of people that really do help each other out here, there’s a real community feel.
There aren’t really much places for the children to go, on a day like today like going to the park.
You get to know everybody that works in the shops, they all blether away and know you by name.
I want to move away from here but the shops are a great place to get me out the house and somewhere to go. IN the north east of the city, the communities are going through changes.
It is visible in the amount of empty spaces or derelict land which was once occupied by houses, schools or community centres.
Easterhouse, Garthamlock, Craigend and Provanmill make up the North East ward.
While there have been many demolitions, the improvements in the houses that remain is there to see and it is still a densely populated area with more than 30,000 people calling it home.
The issues local people have with the communities are similar to when they were first built.
People want more community facilities and more activities for young people to get involved in.
Although in years gone by, housing schemes like Easterhouse were synonymous with gang violence, great efforts to eradicate it have been prioritised here and it has paid off, with an enormous reduction in violence and territorialism.
People talk about the community being the greatest strength and while there are residual gang issues the physical changes appear to have helped bring social and cultural change too.
Unemployment is still an issue and the area has a high rate of Employment Support and Incapacity Benefit claimants.
Community facilities is one issue people would like to see addressed.
Stuart Patterson is a community church leader in Easterhouse. He said a focal point is needed. Mr Patterson said: “For me I think what a lot of people are looking for is a community hub. Easterhouse is a big place with a population of over 20,000 and if you go into any other town or area, they have town halls and things like which we don’t have that place that we can call our own.
“Somewhere where all that stuff can be accessible so people don’t have to feel that they have to come to a church or job club to do that. I’d love to see that.”
He echoes the feeling of community pride people have, and wants to see other agencies take it on board to and finally wipe out negative perceptions about the areas in and around Easterhouse.
Mr Patterson added: “As a community it just needs people to believe in it a bit more. When I was growing up in school being taught interviews we were told don’t say you’re from Easterhouse, so there was this sort of assumption about Easterhouse.
“It’s one of the greatest community in Glasgow so it would be nice to see other organisations like the council take the same pride in Easterhouse that locals do.”
Three councillors will be elected to the North East ward in May.
In 2012 there was four with Labour taking three and the SNP one. The Tories LibDems and Greens didn’t mount much of a challenge.
Labour and the SNP will battle to win two seats in the ward. BRIAN LONGRIDGE, 37, civil servant, Easterhouse: The best thing is probably Provan Hall House. It’s a 15th century manor house, so it’s one of the oldest houses in Glasgow.
There’s not much to do for the kids and the younger generation.
They have improved it a lot over the last 10-15 years, there is a lot more hings like the sports centre but it’s only open at certain times, same as the swimming. They’ve got the Bridge, now which is bringing arts and drama. I will probably vote.