This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Laying the foundations for Ferguslie's future
29/07/1999
A major new housing development will help build a better future for the children of Ferguslie Park, Minister for Communities Wendy Alexander said today.
The £2.1 million, 40 home project will see Ferguslie Park Housing Association build its 700th property. The Minister marked the start of work by burying mementoes of local children's lives in a time capsule and including something from her own childhood.
She said that when the capsule is opened in the future, the people of Ferguslie Park should be living in high quality, affordable homes in a strong local community.
Ms Alexander said:
"We can see today how the children of Ferguslie think about their lives and their community. I want to see this area at the heart of a thriving community, with good housing and quality of life.
"We are committed to tackling poverty and that includes creating a decent standard of housing. Better housing is vital for the people of Scotland and we are putting our money where our mouth is. Investment in housing will be £640m by 2002, which is up by nearly 40 per cent from 1997 levels.
"But we won't achieve this alone. Partnership is essential - between central and local government, Scottish Homes, housing associations, tenants and the private sector. With the help of private sector funding, around 22,000 new, affordable houses will be built in Scotland over the next three years - the highest level since 1982.
"In Ferguslie Park today, we can see what happens when the community works together, supported by Government. Scottish Homes has invested over £35 million to build people a better place to live, at a cost they can afford. Meanwhile the Paisley Social Inclusion Partnership is pursuing housing, health and education programmes to tackle social exclusion.
"The Partnership is receiving £10.9 million Government funding over three years to target eleven priority areas. Included in this is £3 million specifically for Ferguslie Park.
"We are making progress, but there is still a long way to go. Community ownership of housing is the way forward, but we must work together to develop its potential and bring real benefit to the people of Scotland."
One of the local children present, 11-year-old Claire McVey said:
"I have really enjoyed preparing for today, because I like living in Ferguslie Park. I live in a nice, new house and it will be good to see some more people having a new house to live in."
Claire and the other children supplied for the time capsule a CD by local boy band 'Mero', a tape made by children using the local community radio facility and a selection of photographs, poems and stories. Ms Alexander's contribution was a report she wrote in 1975 on a Bishopton Primary School trip to Grantown-on-Spey.
She awarded prizes to the children for their work, which also included banners and head-dresses they used in the burial ceremony, photos taken of the local area and pictures they have painted of their dream home.
BACKGROUND
The Minister was speaking at the Ferguslie Park Avenue development, part of the second phase of Ferguslie Park's physical renewal strategy. The development will see the creation of 40 family homes for social rent (rent at affordable rates). Each phase of the strategy involves creating a proportion of housing for social rent and a proportion for sale.
News Release: SE0186/99
29 July 1999