City of Culture
Residents in Ferguslie Park say making shortlist for top UK award has the town buzzing with self-belief and confidence
Paisley dreams of hope and regeneration
Elaine Carter has spent her 62 years in Ferguslie Park, where life has never been easy.
Last year, the area was named as the most deprived part of Scotland for the second time in a row.
The estate finished bottom of a 7,000-strong list compiled as part of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation, which is produced every four years.
But as far as Elaine is concerned, the past two years or so have been the best of times on Scotland’s toughest housing scheme on the north-western edge of Paisley, the nation’s biggest town.
She puts the surge in optimism down to Paisley’s bid to become UK’S City of Culture in 2021.
“This place is definitely buzzing a lot more than it was. People have got a sense of hope where they didn’t before,” says Elaine, a grandmother who had to retire from her job working at the local community centre on health grounds.
“Everyone is crossing their fingers – just hoping that we get it. It means so much to the younger generation – it gives them hope.”
Paisley, a former industrial hub which built its fortune on textiles and weaving, is up against four other spots – Stoke-on-trent, Sunderland, Swansea and Coventry – in the race to become City of Culture. The much anticipated winner will be announced next month.
Mary-ann Wright, 29, agrees that the bid has energised Paisley. She is a mother of four, who like so many here has overcome all manner of obstacles to raise a family.
Despite pressing issues around her, Mary-ann has found new hope and outlets for her creativity. She is a weekly visitor to Ferguslie’s communityhub,thetannahill Centre – where she joins other women in a self-help group.
In the last year, the group has been increasingly engaged with the bid.
“People are really positive about Paisley’s chances – this means so much to people and especially to the young ones,” she says. “It’s the children who will see the benefits if the town wins.
“Even if we don’t, people are more together than before. I really enjoyed getting involved with an arts project in town – it gave me an outlet for something I enjoy doing.
“It will mean so much if we get the title. Why not Paisley? We can do it.”
The team running Paisley’s bid talk about the potential for “massive” economic benefits and the opportunity to “change our town’s fortunes”.
They have every reason to be optimistic. Hull, the current UK City of Culture, has seen a £1 billion investment since winning the bid in 2013 and it is estimated that nine out of ten residents have attended a City of Culture event.
Experts believe Paisley would reap £172 million over the next ten years if it becomes Hull’s successor.
Jean Cameron is the director of Paisley’s City of Culture bid was also raised in Ferguslie Park. She has been championing the town’s credentials since the bid was launched in 2015. She says that while the organisers always knew their case was strong, it was not until the town was shortlisted in the summer that they really began to believe.
“I think this is the place that would use City of Culture status best,” she says.
“We are ready to use it and we have got a partnership in place. We have 100 per cent of what we need for the scaffolding period – the period when we build our capacity between 2018 and 2021.”
Paisley, which is eligible to run for the title even though it does not have city status, boomed as a production centre for textiles in the 19th century. The fabled Paisley Pattern shawl was its eponymous gift to the world.
But changing tastes and cheaper competition from overseas had killed the industry dead by the 1990s. Many mills were either demolished or turned into flats.
The town’s prosperous heyday is reflected in the grand architecture bequeathed by wealthy magnates.
Ms Cameron thinks the town has a compelling story that locals are eager to share with the rest of the UK.
Some of the town’s famous sons are also lending their voices to the cause.
The singer and musician Paolo Nutini, whose dad, Alfred, stills runs a fish and chip shop in the town, has backed the bid and played a concert locally by way of support.
Former Doctor Who star Davidtennantandhollywood A-list actor Gerard Butler have alsoissuepublicstatementsin support of their home town.
The waiting is nearly over. The final presentations will be made in Hull by delegations from each of the five bids early next month.
“It would make a huge, huge difference to Paisley, and I think people are believing it – in terms of readiness and need,” Ms Cameron adds.
“When we got shortlisted, a whole of lot of people thought ‘Oh, we could actually do this’. That made such a difference – that sense of confidence and belief.”
“Everyone is crossing their fingers – just hoping that we get it. It means so much to the younger generation – it gives them hope”
ELAINE CARTER