Social Context 2.10.8.
The SIMD demonstrates that there are a range of communities with socioeconomic disadvantages in the Gartcosh Gartloch Corridor. Work recently conducted by Glasgow City Council provides information on the social makeup of the communities that suffer these disadvantages.
2.10.9.
The Easterhouse area has a high demand from single adult households with single person and lone parent households being the dominant type in the social rented sector. A study conducted in 2006 showed that 44% of households in Easterhouse are let to households with children compared to an average of 17% across Glasgow1. It is not a favoured area by new applicants and 41% of GHA applicants resident in Easterhouse want to move out.
2.10.10. This study demonstrates the difficulties currently faced by GHA and its partners in developing a cohesive community in the Easterhouse area, and the potential for developments such as the Gartcosh Gartloch Green Network to contribute to place making and a sustainable community. Local Communities 2.10.11. Gartcosh Gartloch Corridor contains, and is bordered by a wide range of communities. These range from the 1960s and 1970s ‘schemes’ which contain relatively socially excluded populations in Easterhouse and Townhead to the small communities at Gartcosh and Glenboig to the modern and affluent population at Gartloch Hospital. On the northern edge of the site, the settlements of Stepps and Muirhead both score better on the SIMD ranking than most of the other communities in the area. 2.10.12. The way in which these communities interact with their local Green Network is difficult to quantify. However it is possible to make some qualitative judgements about current use from work carried out in the area and the consultation undertaken as part of this project. 2.10.13. The more formal elements of the Green Network, including Hogganfield, Auchinlea, Blairtummock and Drumpellier Country Park are well used and are considered valuable resources by local communities. The woodland areas managed by FCS bordering settlements are popular and tend to be used by populations directly connected with them. This territoriality may be one of the reasons why they do not tend to suffer from vandalism to any great extent. 2.10.14. A range of desire lines cross various parts of the corridor away from the built up areas. These are important links/resources but are generally less well used than the more formalised elements of the Green Network closer to the population centres.
1
https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/E9FAF2C6-BDAC-4FF2-8900199841FBB9AD/0/LMSCommitteeReportJan07.pdf
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