This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Research into geography of deprivation
25/05/2005
New research published today studies the impact
of negative and positive environmental features - such as
industrial sites, derelict land and greenspace - to
communities.
The research is the first of its kind in Scotland and
will be used to help target resources to tackle
deprivation.
Some findings include:
- The most deprived populations are three times more
likely to be living near to industrial pollution
sites
- People in the most deprived areas are almost five
times more likely to be living near to derelict land
than people who live in the least deprived areas
- However, there is no direct consistent correlation
between deprivation and proximity to landfill, quarries
and open cast sites
Minister for Environment Ross Finnie said:
"This report demonstrates that the link between
deprivation and environmental quality is more complex than
is commonly understood.
"Scottish Ministers are committed to ensuring that all
communities enjoy a safe and clean environment with robust
regulations to prevent pollution and investment to improve
the quality of life of people across Scotland.
"The research published today will help us to identify
the areas of greatest need and channel our efforts to
ensure that we meet our objective of a safe, clean
Scotland."
The Scotland and Northern Ireland Research forum
(SNIFFER) published the research to inform work on
environmental justice in Scotland. This research was
jointly funded by the Executive, SNIFFER, SEPA, SNH and the
Forestry Commission.
The environmental features included in the research were
industrial pollution, air quality, derelict land, river
water quality, landfill sites, opencast mines and quarries,
greenspace and woodland. The deprivation levels of areas
were calculated using the 2004 Scottish Index of Multiple
Deprivation.
The research was conducted by a team from Staffordshire
University and the University of Leeds, led by Jon Fairburn
(Staffordshire University) and Professor Gordon Walker
(Lancaster University).
Today's publication coincides with a Forward Scotland
conference on sustainable communities - Towards Sustainable
Communities in Scotland - which will provide an opportunity
for community groups and those who work with them to
contribute to the development of the new Scottish
Sustainable Development Strategy.