GLASGOW is winning its battle against long-term social deprivation, a Scottish Government report has confirmed.
City earns praise for improving more areas, but much needs to be done'
GLASGOW is winning its battle against long-term social deprivation, a Scottish Government report has confirmed.
The city has experienced "sustained change" in levels of prosperity, health, crime, and educational attainment during the last five years, according to the latest Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation.
The figures show the city has continually improved in all deprivation indicators in recent years and has lifted more areas out of deprivation since the last report in 2007.
It finds that Glasgow has fewer datazones in the 15% most deprived bracket and one third fewer in the 5% most deprived category - the only local authority in Scotland to experience that degree of decrease.
But the report adds that "serious issues" still exist and Glasgow faces the highest share of income deprivation in Scotland.
Housing And Communities Minister Alex Neil said: "It is encouraging to see progress and the sustained change that is happening in Glasgow but there are still serious problems to be addressed in our communities.
"We know there are areas where daily life is a lot harder because of the area you live in, and this is unacceptable.
"We can't be complacent and we are determined to redouble our efforts to address existing problems and support households and communities across Scotland, especially during the economic downturn.
"That means we are taking bold steps to tackle long-running social issues, such as drug and alcohol abuse that have been left to fester for too long."
He said "new life" was being breathed into communities through multi-million-pound investment in regeneration projects and "affordable" house building.
Steven Purcell, Glasgow City Council leader, said: "These continuing improvements in Glasgow are down to the huge programme of local regeneration that has been carried out by Glasgow City Council and the billions of pounds of inward investment that have been brought into the city.
"Last year, the council and its Community Planning partners invested more than £100m in projects aimed at tackling deprivation, and the improvements are to be welcomed."
The city gave £3.5m towards Glasgow Works to tackle unemployment and the council says this has helped improve the city's labour market potential and income levels.
The council has also played a major role in the rebuilding of thousands of homes across the city.
The data also highlights problems in North Ayrshire, but indicates improvements in South Lanarkshire and West Dunbartonshire.
Although levels of employment deprivation in the most deprived areas are still "well above" the national average of 9%, the figures show employment deprivation has fallen in the most deprived areas from 30% to 26%.
The statistics are based on data from 2008, before the onset of the recession, but the authors of the report claim it still provides a "valid picture of the distribution of deprivation".
They add: "The Index also looks beyond the economic situation and covers a range of other life circumstances of the people of Scotland, including health, education, access to services, housing and crime which take longer to change."
In Shettleston, an area with a historic problem of long-term deprivation, the situation is slowly changing for the better, but local MSP Frank McAveety says more needs to be done to ensure no-one is left behind by regeneration plans.
Mr McAveety said that while there has been "substantial investment" in housing, the area is still blighted by unemployment.
He says residents must share the benefits of the wider East End regeneration stimulated by the city being awarded the 2014 Commonwealth Games to overcome "systemic disadvantages".
Mr McAveety added: "One of the major challenges is to ensure young people, in particular, benefit from the apprenticeships.
"But I think there is a deeper issue about working with individuals in those communities who are trapped in a cycle of poverty about how they break out of it."
The official report provides an index that gives the most precise picture of deprivation patterns available in Scotland, concentrating data to areas smaller than postcode zones.
Edinburgh and the north-east region has seven of the 10 least deprived communities, while Glasgow City and Renfrewshire are saddled with all 10 most deprived datazones.
TOP 10 - BEST AND WORST...
Top 10 most deprived areas (Based on post codes):
1. Parkhead West and Barrowfield, Glasgow
2. Paisley Ferguslie, Renfrewshire
3. Keppochhill, Glasgow
4. Possilpark, Glasgow
5. Glenwood North, Glasgow
6. Possilpark, Glasgow
7. Parkhead West and Barrowfield, Glasgow
8. Paisley Ferguslie
9. Paisley Ferguslie
10. Drumchapel North, Glasgow
Top 10 least deprived:
1. Banchory, Aberdeenshire
2. Craiglockhart, Edinburgh
3. Lower Whitecraigs and South Giffnock, East Renfrewshire
4. Morningside, Edinburgh
5. Stockbridge, Edinburgh
6. Merrylee and Braidbar, East Renfrewshire
7. Midstocket, Aberdeen
8. Whitecraigs and Broom, East Renfrewshire
9. Marchmont West, Edinburgh
10. Comely Bank, Edinburgh
