‘We want a voice to make change’
The community council covering the most deprived neighbourhood in Perth and Kinross has called on residents to be involved in decisionmaking for the area.
A group of streets in Muirton was listed in the bottom 10 per cent of most deprived areas in the whole of Scotland, according to the new Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation.
It was one of two data zones in Perth within the bottom 10 per cent.
Hillyland, Tulloch and Inveralmond, around Fairfield Avenue also appeared in the bottom 10 per cent.
The survey, which is published by the Scottish Government, gave each small community in the country a mark out of 10 against a number of factors relating to deprivation.
The neighbourhood, which took in streets between Gowans Terrace and Kestrel Way, scored just one overall, and one for income, employment, health, and education and skills.
It also scored three for housing and four for crime.
Of the 832 people living in the neighbourhood, 248 are income deprived and 108 are employment deprived.
Grace Sharkey, secretary of North Inch and Muirton Community Council, said the group was “disappointed” the area had been identified as one of the bottom 10 per cent on the index.
She added: “We’re not involved in the Perth City Action Partnership, the local body responsible for community planning, although we’re aware of the ambitions they have for the area.
“We appreciate that deprived areas can persist for long periods but developments such as the Urban Union new builds in Muirton are offering a good quality and wide range of housing units for residents.
“Similarly initiatives such as Invest in Perth and the Business Gateway is helping to improve job prospects by attracting inward investment and assisting growing businesses.
“For our part we see the role of our community council as engaging with all those who live in the local community in order to encourage and enable their participation in decision making.
“We feel strongly that those with first -hand knowledge of the problems should be respected and involved from the start in decisions affecting them directly.
“Additionally the community council is working to develop a compassionate community, one which connects people through social initiatives or, for example, food sharing.
“We’ve looked at ways of generating funds for this.”
Councillor Andrew Parrott, who represents Muirton as part of the city centre ward at Perth and Kinross Council, said the impact of Universal Credit and the closure of Balhousie School are contributing to the problem of deprivation.
He said: “While Perth is often thought of as a well-to-do place, it certainly is not all well to do, and it surprises many people that average earnings in Perth and Kinross are lower than in Dundee.
“We are sadly locally quite a low wage economy, and I think it is fair to say that many residents of Muirton suffer from in-work poverty.”
“Official unemployment is low but quite a large number of people are in low-paying, insecure employment.”
Part of Rattray in Eastern Perthshire was also identified in the bottom 10 per cent.
Pete Wishart, MP for Perth and North Perthshire, added: “It is concerning to see areas of Perth remain in the bottom 10 per cent of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation, but I note that there is a general improvement on the Perth city figures from 2016.”
The survey revealed parts of Crieff, Scone, Auchterarder, Kinross and Milnathort were among the most affluent in the country.
Parts of Perth like Western Edge, Burghmuir, Viewlands and Oakbank also scored well.
concerned in the unlawful supply of a controlled drug.
CI Ian Scott, area commander for Perth and Kinross, told the PA his officers would not tolerate drugs in the region.
He said: “Police Scotland continues to work with communities and partners to identify those involved in the supply of controlled drugs to reduce the damage they cause to individuals and families.
“Operation Slate is the D Division (Tayside) initiative to gather intelligence relating to drugs supply and carry out enforcement activity to bring those responsible to before the courts.”
CI Scott had previously warned of the dangers posed by so-called ‘county lines’ drugs gangs from England infiltrating Perth and Kinross communities.
Anyone with information on drugs crime is asked to contact Police Scotland on the non-emergency number, 101.
Information can also be given anonymously through the Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555 111.