Published: Wednesday, 30th July, 2008 12:00
What a great place to live
By News Desk
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Major transport improvements such as the reopening of Alloa train station are attracting more people to live in the Wee County.
THE population of Clackmannanshire’s is estimated to have reached a new all time high.
There were 49,900 people living in the Wee County in June last year, according to an official estimate published this week – 1000 more than the previous year. This increase of 2 per cent is the highest population increase of any local authority area in Scotland.
Registrar General for Scotland Duncan Macniven has reported that the mid-2007 population estimates showed a 0.5 per cent increase for Scotland as a whole.
Councillor Eddie Carrick, Sustainability Portfolio holder, said, “Clackmannanshire, along with the rest of Scotland, suffered from a population decline in the 1990s.
“Thankfully we turned that corner a few years ago and this latest, incredibly positive, population estimate shows that Clackmannanshire is well and truly open for business.
“I am delighted that 1000 new people have discovered the joy of living in Clackmannanshire.”
One of the key areas that is influencing population levels in Clackmannanshire is the number of new housing developments.
A total of 450 new homes were built in 2006, and a further 384 homes were built in 2007.
This compares with 187 homes in the year 2000. In 2000/01 Clackmannanshire had the lowest rate of new build housing completions in the country, while in 2006/07, the county had the highest rate in Scotland.
The county’s vastly improved transport links have also made Clackmannanshire a more attractive place for new residents.
With the Alloa rail line re-opening earlier this year and the ‘Clackmannanshire Bridge’ – still officially the Upper Forth Crossing – on schedule to open later this year, the county is set to enjoy improved access to the rest of central Scotland.
Director of development and environmental services Garry Dallas said, “Our planning service has experienced a development boom in the past few years and, while other parts of Scotland are experiencing a slow down in the housing market, Clackmannanshire continues to grow. Clearly, increased expenditure in the local economy is good news for local retail and service traders.”
Mr Dallas added that with work ongoing on three new secondary schools and a new hospital, and with plans being prepared for a new college, the signs for the county’s development continued to look very encouraging, despite the recent slow down in the housing market nationally.
Migration – the majority from the rest of the UK – accounts for most of Clackmannanshire’s population increase.
A figure of 695 net migration was reported for 2006/2007. This compares to 191 for 2005/2006.
Of the 695 migrants, the vast majority – 414 – moved to Clackmannanshire from elsewhere in Scotland, while 190 came from England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and 91 came from overseas.
Rosa Macpherson, the council’s senior adult education worker, said, “Good news travels fast and increasingly the Wee County’s reputation for providing quality language provision for both children and adults continues to attract people from overseas, particularly our neighbours in the EU.
“The benefits their skills bring to Clackmannanshire, coupled with the support they receive, makes it a win-win situation for everyone.
“Additionally, the council’s pivotal role in helping establish the Association for Migrant Integration ensures that cultural, social as well as educational integration is paramount.”
There were 551 births and 473 deaths recorded for Clackmannanshire between 2006 and 2007, which gives a net population increase of 78 as a result of births and deaths.
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