Ferguslie Park facts for kids
Ferguslie Park is a neighbourhood located in the north-west part of Paisley, Scotland. It is close to the town of Linwood and Glasgow Airport. Ferguslie Park has faced challenges, but people are working hard to make it a better place to live.
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About Ferguslie Park
Ferguslie Park is a residential area, meaning it's mainly where people live. It's known for being one of the areas in Scotland that has faced the most difficulties. This means people there might have fewer resources and opportunities, for example, in health and education. Despite these challenges, there have been many efforts to improve the area and help its residents.
A Look at its Past
Early Beginnings
The history of Ferguslie goes back to the 1500s. It was once a large estate linked to the monks of Paisley. The modern area we see today started around the 1850s. Back then, it was a mining settlement called Inkerman, where people dug for iron-stone. When the mine closed, Inkerman was taken down, and its residents moved to Ferguslie or nearby Elderslie. Ferguslie Park grew further after a law called the Housing Act of 1949.
Tough Times and Changes
Ferguslie Park was hit hard when many traditional factories and industries closed down in the late 1970s and early 1980s. This included the car plant in nearby Linwood. When these jobs disappeared, it caused many problems for the community. The area also felt quite cut off from Paisley and other towns because of railway lines and other transport routes. This led to some people feeling left out or separated from wider society. There were also some issues with crime and young people getting into trouble.
Working Towards a Better Future
Today, many steps are being taken to make Ferguslie Park better. "Neighbourhood wardens" now walk the streets to help keep things safe and prevent crime. There are also "Graffiti Squads" that quickly remove graffiti to make the area look nicer.
The Tannahill Centre is a special place named after a poet named Robert Tannahill. It acts as a community hub and has shops for local residents. Community projects, like Ferguslie Park Radio, help young people use their energy in positive ways. There are also sports facilities for playing football.
To the east, new homes have been built. There's also a shopping and entertainment area called the Phoenix Centre. It has a cinema, car dealerships, restaurants, and supermarkets. This centre was built on the land where the old Chrysler car plant used to be.
In 2006, the Scottish Government said Ferguslie Park was one of Scotland's most deprived communities. This was based on information from 1996. By 2012, it was still identified as the most deprived area in Scotland. However, in 2019, things improved slightly, and it became the third-most deprived area. This shows that the efforts to help the community are making a difference. The local football team, St Mirren F.C., moved to a new stadium near Ferguslie Park in 2009.
Where is Ferguslie Park?
Ferguslie Park is located at the north-west edge of Paisley in Renfrewshire, Scotland. It is next to Linwood to the west and Glasgow Airport to the north.
Travel by Train
The railway line that goes from Inverclyde to Glasgow runs north of Ferguslie Park. Paisley St James railway station is on this line. However, it's a very quiet station, with only one train stopping per hour. The plans for the Glasgow Airport Rail Link mean this station will close and a new one will open closer to the centre of Ferguslie Park.
Bus Services
Two bus services run through Ferguslie Park. One connects the area to the Phoenix Centre and Paisley Town Centre. The other, run by Arriva, links the area to Paisley Cross. Because of safety concerns, no bus companies operate after 6:30 PM, even though many people in the area don't own cars.
St James's Park, also known as the Racecourse, is a large green space south of the M8 motorway. It's a popular place for amateur football teams to play. This area has avoided many of the problems seen in other parts of Ferguslie Park. It is still well used, with many businesses, especially long-stay car parks for the nearby airport.
Famous Faces from Ferguslie Park
Several well-known people have connections to Ferguslie Park:
- Joe Egan and Gerry Rafferty were singer/songwriters from the band Stealers Wheel. They named their second album after the area in 1974.
- Kelly Marie is a singer/songwriter.
- John Byrne is a famous artist and playwright.
- Sandra Osborne is a politician who used to be a Member of Parliament (MP) for Ayr Carrick & Cumnock. An MP is a person elected to represent their local area in the country's parliament.
- John Keenan is a Roman Catholic Bishop of Paisley. A bishop is a high-ranking leader in the Roman Catholic Church.
