Report to the People
The True Face of Greenock
The two murders which have been committed in Inverclyde in the past fortnight are as shocking as they are senseless.
At a time when our thoughts are concentrated on events overseas, the idea that people on our own doorstep are indulging in the sort of thuggery we are fighting against is absurd.
Although not to the same extent as those the victims leave behind, we are all damaged by incidents such as this. The careless clichés with which our community is described on the evening news ("war zone"; "drug wars"; "gangland" – take your pick) undoes years of hard work in regenerating the area and rebuilding our image.
Of course, anyone who actually lives in Greenock knows that these myths are nonsense. But if the rest of the country regularly sees Greenock painted in such lurid colours, how will we ever attract anyone to live, work or invest here?
It is my responsibility as an MSP to take on the doom merchants – both inside and outside the community – who are determined to talk us down. And it is every local person’s job to prove them wrong by showing the true face of Greenock. I never miss an opportunity remind people that, in the real Greenock, old industrial wastelands have been regenerated; more of our young people are going straight to college or university; and our education service is the best in the country.
And, on a more personal level, our community spirit refuses to fade. In the last few weeks, for example, I have met young people and staff at the newly opened Larkfield Youth Café, volunteers at the Salvation Army Lunch Club, members of the Inverclyde Community Care Forum and workers at the Craigend Resource Centre – all of whom give their time and effort to improve the community they care about.
This is not, of course, to be complacent. The deadly cocktail of drugs and guns – and more people prepared to use both – threatens our community, just as it threatens every other community in Scotland. But we have faced worse and are strong enough to meet this challenge.
So the next time you’re cornered by the self-pitying handwringer in the pub, or someone sneers at you for living in Greenock, don’t be afraid to let them know that the true face of your community is not decline and drugs, but decency and a determination to succeed.
[ HOME ] [ News ] [ Articles ] [ Calendar ] [ Contacts ] [ Links ] [ E-Mail ]
[ Copyright ] [ UK Online ] [ Scottish Parliament ]