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Welcome to the GCV Green Network e-newsletter.
Last year was a very successful year for the partnership, with the appointment of the executive team in April, our launch in June, and the development of more than 30 projects throughout the year. 2008 promises to be just as busy!
We hope to see some of you at our Strategic Tools for Delivery seminar on Wednesday which provides an opportunity to get feedback on some of our recently completed projects (click here for information). We plan to hold more seminar events later in the year so watch this space for further details!
| Click on the headings below to link to the articles
National Planning Framework | Inverclyde | Auchenback | Gateway Update | Wood Fuel Market | Who's Who | Contact
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NPF2 endorses GCV Green Network
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The draft of the second National Planning Framework (NPF2), published earlier this month, highlights the opportunities that exist to develop Green Networks across Scotland.
Special reference is made to the GCV Green Network Programme which is designed to promote healthier lifestyles, better environments, greater biodiversity, stronger communities and economic opportunity.
The document identifies the scope that exists to expand the Green Network approach across the Central Belt, in co-ordination with the Central Scotland Forest Trust, focusing on environmental quality, woodland cover and recreational opportunities through an action programme. Such an approach would make Central Scotland a more attractive place to live and do business, while helping to absorb CO2 and promote healthier, more active lifestyles.
The National Planning Framework will guide Scotland’s spatial development to 2030, setting out strategic development priorities to support the Scottish Government’s central purpose – promoting sustainable economic growth. It provides an important vehicle for national debate about the sort of place we want Scotland to be.
The draft NPF2 can be downloaded at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications
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| | Inverclyde's Green Network | As part of the wider regeneration of Inverclyde, a strategy has been commissioned by the GCV Green Network Partnership to examine development of green infrastructure along a four and a half mile stretch of the River Clyde.
The strategy will be designed to maximise long-term social, economic and environmental benefits not only along the waterfront, but also within the wider urban communities of Greenock, Port Glasgow and Gourock.
The study will examine both existing and potential future greenspaces in Inverclyde and consider which are strategically important to the image, economy, environment and well-being of the area. In addition, it will also identify ways in which active use of the Inverclyde Green Network can be encouraged and more sustainable approaches to long term management introduced.
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| Local exhibition aids consultation process | Residents in Auchenback, East Renfrewshire, recently took part in a research exercise to  highlight the good and bad aspects of their local green and open spaces.
The exercise, run by Halcrow consultants, is part of a wider assessment of the area to discover the real and perceived barriers to accessing the Green Network.
As part of the consultants work, local attitudes and usage will be assessed over the medium to long-term alongside a local programme of physical regeneration.
Ellie Mills, of Halcrow consultants, said "We are innovative in the way we gathered our research information, in this instance we supplied 10 digital cameras to local residents. We found that by giving people a camera and asking them to take 10 photos as they went about their day to day activities it was a much easier to start a dialogue rather that using the usual questionnaire approach."
"The informal conversations we had with residents whilst distributing cameras were a rich source of information. An exhibition of the images, entitled ‘A picture of health’, provided a platform for further discussion and workshops. This provided us with a vital evidence base with which to continue our research."
"This information will now be analysed, categorised and developed into an action plan with specific proposals to allow people to gain the maximum benefit from their open space resources."
In an area of high deprivation like Auchenback it is hoped that significant investment in regeneration will bring with it increased levels of activity across the local Green Network.
Pictures: Taken by Local Residents in Auchenback as part of Halcrow's research.
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| | Clyde Gateway Project - Progress Update | The Clyde Gateway, in Glasgow’s east end, will be a crucial flagship project for early action by the Green Network team. The Gateway is identified as a national priority in the Scottish Government’s National Planning Framework 2, and masterplanning for development associated with the Commonwealth Games is moving forward fast.
The GCV Green Network Partnership is working with key partners to identify the first suite of projects to be delivered from the Green Network Strategy. A briefing on the Strategy has already been delivered to several representatives from Glasgow City and South Lanarkshire Councils, Scottish Enterprise and Communities Scotland.
Further briefings are scheduled in the coming months bringing integration of the Green Network in this region a step closer.
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| | Potential £2.3m wood fuel market in GCV area |  A recent report commissioned by the GCV Green Network Partnership has estimated that a potential wood fuel market, worth in excess of £2.3 million, exists in the
Glasgow & Clyde Valley region.
Within the boundaries of the eight local authorities it is surmised over 46,000 tonnes of woodfuel could be sustainably produced annually with 7,846 tonnes coming directly from within the Green Network itself (worth around £400,000).
There is a significant market opportunity, for example, to supply a number of institutional boilers across the GCV area. Local authorities, in particular, would benefit from a switch to woodfuel, improving the management and quality of their woodlands, generating both financial and carbon savings, reducing landfill and helping create new local jobs.
 The Green Network Partnership is working toward encouraging development of these opportunities, and is particularly encouraged by a Scottish Government report this month recommending action to increase the supply of wood for renewable energy production in
Scotland.
The Green Network Wood Energy report will shortly be available on our website.
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| | Who's Who | The GCV Green Network Partnership Board - Fraser K. Williamson
 Fraser Williamson is Head of Planning, Housing and Transportation at Inverclyde Council and represents the Council on the GCV (
Glasgow & Clyde Valley) Green Network Partnership Board. He is also a member of the GCV Green Network Steering Group.
Fraser has been at Inverclyde Council since 1990 and has been Head of Planning since 1999. He has taken on the additional responsibilities of Housing and Transportation policy within the last 12 months. Fraser is also currently on the Executive Committee of the Scottish Society of Directors of Planning.
Fraser considers greenspace to be an essential component in creating an attractive environment where people choose to live, work and invest. As well as being important at the strategic Glasgow and Clyde Valley level, he believes greenspace is also vital at a local level particularly in areas of poor health statistics where local provision can be developed to improve the quality of life.
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| | Contact |
Glasgow & Clyde Valley Green Network Partnership
125 West Regent Street, Glasgow G2 2SA
Max Hislop, Programme Manager
t: 0141 229 7747
Michelle McGarr, Promotions & Communications Officer
t: 0141 229 7748
Ally Corbett, Development Officer
t: 0141 229 7749
Penny Cousins, Development Consultant
t: 0141 344 3225 |
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