Paisley: Scotland's Dying Town? [Dir: Findlay Marks]

[urbankhat65]

Paisley=full of wanna be gangsters with knives.

[piano1996No1]

I live in Ralston which is classified as Paisley but for some reason people just do not count it as part of Paisley at all. I attended Paisley Grammar school and people did not seem to be poor, but perhaps that is because the people that go to Paisley Grammar school are mostly from Ralston. What do you think.

[KingHotdog]

Gleniffer ???? isnt it Glenburn is this guy from Paisley or just at it

[wimblewomble21]

I hate to say this, But i hope this new tory government gives the police more power, so then we can get these low lifes off the streets, & restore paisley back to its former glory. A town with such an amazing history of exports in industry, art and education does not deserve to go in2 rack & ruin. The town needs outside advice help from such nations as Germany, who get it right time and time again. They went from rack and ruin in the 40's to now presently the No1 leading nation in europe.

[filinchen89]

I hope I can study in Paisly this year. Greetings from Germany :)

[OrielFilms]

Stop building offices and flats and start building things for people to come to paisley for. Like a cinema a proper shopping center and just things to do.

There is nothing to do here anymore, it is just so damn depressing.

[rebe1angel]

Paisley is beautiful...there are so many gorgeous, historical buildings, it's surrounded by countryside, beautiful park and so much history...but it's been left to ruin...with the lack of shops in the Paisley Centre, the night-life gone and shutting down of amusements like the bowling.

But I'm sick of hearing people say it's a "bad area"...come on, every area has it's problems. To me, it's just always been home.

[kyook]

Ahh paisley the town where you can get your teeth kicked in around the next corner

[tz125r]

@kyook

Can you name a Town in Scotland where you wont get your teeth kicked in around the corner?

sweeping generalisation comment from an uneducated moron.

[elcarsto]

Weird seeing all this..

I grew up in Ferguslie and never knew the dangers of what was around me. I now understand why my parents moved us out to Australia.

It's a shite hole, but it's still hame. :/

[Tesco1YaFknPringle]

FOXBAR :D yesi

[AliciaArandas]

I was born in Paisley, Scotland. I have lived in the United States for many years. It is my homeland. Be blessed.

[MrCheljack]

I love Paisley I come home every year If I can , but it's time the Council got off their backsides and did something to help the people and business's of the town

[charleybo36]

Unfortunatelt Paisley has not turned a corner have heard the recent budget! more closure more hardship less services! its all gone!

[HeathenPapistFilth]

Parsley needs BOMBING. Fukkin cowp. People think they're something.

[ptsmfc]

ive just returned to paisley after 20 years, its in a shocking state!! thanks wendy

[JaKaTaK14]

I have the "pleasure" o living in this shithole, people should ocnsider themselves lucky if they don't live here lol

Mind u i've had a lucky escape, i lived in Foxbar, which is very near Feegie...

[RebeccaLovesGreenDay]

@JaKaTaK14 I live in Foxbar, it's no that bad..

[JaKaTaK14]

@RebeccaLovesGreenDay Yeh I lived in Finton which wux fine fine but Feegie isnt. Ma sister lived further up Foxbar lyk past the park nd msot of the houses there were full of smack addicts (her bein 1 of them)

[RebeccaLovesGreenDay]

@JaKaTaK14 Aye, a lot of the houses past the park, are just disgusting.

[JaKaTaK14]

@RebeccaLovesGreenDay Aye don't get me wrong av been to Feegie park and it was weird because one of my mates lived there and you didnt get any trouble there but literally a few minutes down the road things were horrifying lol

[l3awjawz]

@JaKaTaK14 Ferguslie must be the worst scumhole in Scotland. It was even worse than the east end of Glasgow at one time. I don't know where Finton is. Is that in or near Foxbar?

[JaKaTaK14]

@l3awjawz U know where that Aldi is? well if u go up the steep road nd keep going to the top then theres a row of houses and mines wuz at the top right at the end lol

I remember when I was about 3 this fuckin idiot that lived upstairs literally put his head through th windows in and my mum went flying out of it and knocked fuck out of him lmao he was a scrawny wee cunt... Good old days ;)

[l3awjawz]

@JaKaTaK14 Do you mean Green Road?  I think I know where you are now.

[JaKaTaK14]

@l3awjawz I think so yeah, and if u drive along the road of the top flats the school is literally right beside them :)

[tom080955]

2/2...

I did get the impression from the people's attitude though they were very friendly, they seemed like they were owed something at sometime.

I saw none of the Scottish drive you see of scots in other countries and the lack of entrepreneurism (sp).

I was amazed at the large asian invasion there.

In all...I cant wait to come back.

[tom080955]

Well done! Im from Paisley's Fergusley Park, attended St. Fergus School...wayyyy back! Now living in Canada. I came home a few years back and didnt recognize the place, only the school was the same. It was nice the airport was 5 minutes from our relatives.Paisley has so much potential, and still has. 1/2

[janie2050]

Its not a city!!!

[Thegormiti16]

I visited the place back in 2000. I noticed that the local youngsters looked very athletic all in tracksuits and sneakers. Then I realised that this was just a trend among a dangerous folk called "ned" or something.

[MrSelidor7]

I was born in Paisley in 74 and lived there and in Linwood until 96. I think that all the reasons people have been listed are to some extent true. Out of town malls, high rates/rents and the pedestrianisation led to the death of the high street which was the heart of the town. I went back for a visit in about 2005 and I almost didn't recognise it.

[charleybo36]

@MrSelidor7 The high had 2 be shut as the buildings surrounding it were falling 2 bits due 2 heavy traffic etc!

[urbankhat65]

Don't know about the council,but it's about time the people got their finger out.

[thrillseeker70]

time for the council to pull the finger out

[Thundergee]

i am also from paisley.( glenburn)i have noticed the decline in glenburn over the past 38years that i have been away. my family lived in lismore drive, not far from skye shops. last time i visited i got verbal abuse in skye shop area.i went to st aeldreds@st.peters,there werent many kids that were bad then.( 60s@70s. but now i wouldent walk out there late at nite( such a shame)

[baderfinger]

My grandfather left Paisley in April 1921 at 18 . The great american experiment has reached it's full demise in less than 100 years . The town that the thread mill lead him to is past and no longer exists with the exception of us few who simply have been forced to watch the death throws , lacking the funds to resettle elsewhere or return to where he once originated. I think of him at 18 and what America must have promised at the time . Bless Paisley for this republic is clinging only to war.

[tycorgc]

gimme a kleenex. the place is a shitehole and always will be

[josh0hicks]

Paisleys awrite man,

just stay off that fuckin cycle track dudes

[aidanlb]

its amazing watching this video and noticing the shops that have shut down since u filmed it,

and although ferguslie is catagorized as rough its not bad at all i deliver there everyday and never once have i had a problem, i grew up in glenburn and i still live in glenburn i'd say glenburn is worse than ferguslie honestly.

u try walking past skye crescent at 11pm on a friday night see how many times u get stabbed in the face .

[selectiveinspiration]

@aidanlb Surely after you've been stabbed in the face once you wouldn't go back for another go.....would you?

[aidanlb]

go and ask that to people i know who have been battered many times there just because they were trying to walk past maybe not get stabbed in the face as such but honestly all i was trying to say is u cant walk down glenburn without being attacked or verbaly abused

[BlueSoylent]

oh i for got to say " Renfrewshire Council coundn't run a fucking bath"

[BlueSoylent]

Paisley is a beautiful city! shame its full of lazy junkie bastards! "SAOR ALBA"

[najtrows]

btw, anyone know why he says that its the largest town in scotland?

does he mean that theres a difference with town and city? or is it just plain wrong?

because glasgow is huuuuuge

[selectiveinspiration]

@najtrows a city and a town are two entirely different things, Paisley keeps getting passed over for elivation to city status, which is a shame as it's one of the things that could help lift it out the doldrums

[najtrows]

well not entirely though, its not like potatoe and car :)

and english is my second language so ive never had to think about it.

thanks though, ive learned about that now! :)

[najtrows]

ive got friends from sweden that moved there. and im about to try to do the same. i hope its a better town that it seems :D

[3fa11]

Wendy Alexander is one of the thickest people i have ever had the pleasure of meeting thank fek she is no longer a local msp

its funny how she comments on new nearby shopping developments would that be the developments that help to ruin paisley

[smegma101054]

i think that everybody that says they grew up in paisley and think that the town has become a shithole over the years should use their imagination.........every town in britain has altered to the same extent . PEACE AND LOVE

[smegma101054]

whits happened tae paisley. ye cannae even go doon the toon oan a seturday noo and go shoapliftin and then go and get served in pubs under age .WHY ? cause theres fuck al shoaps and pubs left ! ......kids at home ...dont drink underage or steal...thats bad mmoooooo k.

[crugoid]

Best shop by far has to be cashies!!

[crugoid]

whatever happened to the days when you could walk about the paisley centre, buy a few dvds or a pair of jeans and then go for a nice wee burger king?? :(

Note: If your a tourist do NOT jingle your pocket change on the high street!!!

[maxmardan]

Would any of you be interested in support my endeavour to start a fund to repair the fountain gardens? A fund started and maintained by the people. We raise the money, we hire the conservation artist, we take it into our own hands. We cannot let that Fountain continue to degrade. Who's in?

[thrillseeker70]

Thanks for posting, it's a bloody shameful disgrace what the incompetent local authority have allowed to happen in my wee home town, these people are not fit for purpose and should be publicly held to account. for example, might it not be an idea to reverse the blatant stupidity of pedestrianization and get people and buisness back into the town, if people can drive in then give them reason to park and spend money and time in the town, someone needs to pull thier finger out.

[paisleygerry]

To answer many people's question as to why Paisley seems in a bad way......it's now pretty well know that Renfrewshire Council have deliberately allowed it to run down as massive European grants are available once it gets to a certain state of depravity ....it's what happened in Cumbernauld and now the difference there is a lot better ....however it still could be years until our town gets bad enough.

[williegofar95]

dont die hometown :(

[scadenas]

I lived in this place about forty years ago. I saw no future in this place because the people have very poor values. The politicians do nothing to stimulate the people into changing values. Too much soccer and sectarian stuff stops people wanting to invest anything in that place.

[Bovrilkid]

Who killed Paisley? The traffic planners & parking strategy.I live here and have not spent a penny in the town in months.I wonder why?

[MiggyRGB]

I thought this was a fairly well balanced video.

Quite a few changes have been made to the town since this was shot. Thankfully they have demolished a couple of the dilapidated buildings shown & got rid of the stupid gray water feature & some of the other overpriced arty farty features which got in your way when trying to get about. Next time they upgrade the town they need to ask the people what they want instead of replacing drab gray pavements with more of the same!

[paisleygerry]

This is complete crap ....it's so easy to look for negative and depressing aspects of anything ...the real skill and talent lays in identifying positive solutions and to see the good which exists. If you tell people something is bad then people will agree...the more you dwell on negativity the more your perspectives narrow and you implode into a spiral of self depression and pessimism which serves absolutely no purpose. Any idiot can look at what seems a hopeless cause.

[hujjesb]

you have got to be joking .paisley is looking worse and worse every time I go up to the place ..the town centre is just looking so bad now ,.

[paisleygerry]

I never said that it isn't bad ...you obviously never read my statement ...you have fallen into the trap that many others have...only seeing a superficial view and not looking at substance. Let's hope you are not as pathetic as the stupid girl at the start of this film ...she seems to blow whichever way the wind takes her and comes out with as much hot air into the bargain..she doesn't appear to have an ounce of an original opinion......probably the type you could chat up over a cheap drink !

[brianpmul]

@paisleygerry i agree with you on your observations on paisley

[thrillseeker70]

@paisleygerry you obviously live in a waffle bubble .

[tom080955]

@paisleygerry

Having just read your comments.I have to overall agree with you. Paisley needs a cleaning and proper governing. Back in my day and not that long ago the police were visible at all times

People need to go away for a while and return as I did to appreciate your home town. Your commentery on negativitiy is well placed and bang on.

Paisley has potential and a massive history, see inside the Abby.Its easily accessible to the world via the airport and the transit system is very good.

[maxmardan]

My family were bricklayers and stone masons and help build Paisley. After being there recently and seeing how much it has changed for the worst, its very depressing. Paisley is the place of my home and my family and the place where my heart will always reside. I long for the simpler times, when I was young and a town that held beautiful memories and character. Something must be done to uphold the history of this town.

[paisleyisgreat]

Yea when i was growing up 99 - 2005 i remember the Christmases their were great but neds are taking over i mean before there was Goths to keep them in line but the Goth population in Paisley has died only scene kids and emos when i leave school here in Saltcoats i may move back to Paisley but if the shops are gone then am off to Glasgow

[superpaperosalina]

Indeed. This place is a disgrace, I never go out at night because of the bloody huge amount of neds around.

[h2oextremepcs]

Tourist destination lol

Come to paisley & try the smack

[yakamagirl]

Hey Dee Shannon!

Its your favorite yank Becky

Love and regards to all there esp doreen!

love becky the yank

[B1gBassa]

fuck you wendy ya lisping bitch

[frankophille]

Wendy Alexander....the phrase 'one of those faces you just want to slap' was made for her.

Good video.

[deeo50]

@frankophille Here! Here!

[StephenSuttie1974]

So many things have killed shopping not just in Paisley. Audio and Video purchasing, thanks to the internet and mp3s etc.

[StephenSuttie1974]

The fact of the matter is. Breahead and Silverburn have killed Paisley.

The Paisley Centre was bussling in the 90s and so were the street shops during the 80s.

Where does everyone go shopping that lives in Paisley, yup...

Breahead and Silverburn.

[bobbykoedkotto]

paisley sums scotland up!! the whole country is dying unlike mighty england

[JaKaTaK14]

@bobbykoedkotto England is a shitehole 2 just not as rough as here

[clydevideo]

Well done. This is one of the best videos I've seen about Paisley on YouTube.

[leckiebaby]

i love paisley its my home town and it brings tears to my eyes to see it go down the drain, lazy bastards should get off their arses n gets a job ,

it wuld be nice to see paisley back to its glory x

[h2oextremepcs]

If there were jobs to get

[davedee31165]

In my opinion, Paisley started going downhill in the early 80's when shops like "Lew's" started shutting down due to the rent/rates increases.The building of Braehead is always a good excuse for the decline of the town centre but there is many a thriving town with retail parks etc on their doorstep.The local government should be stepping in to encourage businesses to stay in Paisley and for others to open up. Please bear in mind that this is MY opinion and don't slate me for it!

[davedee31165]

The girl at the start is far too polite to use the word "shit-hole". I stay in Paisley and I'm afraid that over the years that's what it has become.

Paisley is a great location if you are looking for a mobile phone or a pound shop.Even the many pubs that Paisley boasted are in decline! It really hurts me to say that the town that I was brought up in, doesn't really have a lot going for it.

[rabblue]

aye it is a shame . paisley born and bred i also moved down south i had to .had to find work .i agree there are some lazy bastards about paisley but a stil miss it  after 22 years.

[taylorkevin94]

i lived in paisley until i was 17 then moved down south in 1989 it was the same now as it is now,, im from feegie , ,,full of lazy bastards who would rather draw benifits than do something with there lifes,, what a shame,,

[lebonpost]

Gosh, i lived in Lima peru and you can party there all nite, there is restaurants and malls everywhere. this town looks very conservative i don't think is like Vegas

[2367921]

Sentimentally when I think of Paisley, in my throat I get a lump,

in fact I feel this type of pathos down to my rump

I lived there as a boy near Arleston Road

and knew very well the Paisley and Renfrew code

but now it has declined and that does not surprise me

for there is nothing there and nothing to see

you would have to change people and their attitude

even get them to accept some servitude!

[2367921]

Well Paisley has no incipient signs of development, how can you improve when the population wont get off their backside and do a hard days work. There is so much that they could do to improve their image by way of showing that there is no religious bigotry, because a lot of time is spent with partisan and sectarian stuff. That does not inspire anyone who would be willing to invest in the place.

[2367921]

What you need is, is someone like Adolf Mc Hitler. Get it?

[pieman78]

One last thing i forgot to say......Mon the Buddies !!!!!!

[pieman78]

Ferguslie park is and always will be a dumping ground for the scum of society, and it's a shame for the decent folk of ferguslie who have to live with these half wits, instead of pumping millions into ferguslie all the time spend the money on some gallows and hang the bastards who sell drugs to kids.

[GhostReconGuy]

@pieman78 Feegie Shoe Stealers.

[pieman78]

If you get rid of the junkies and beggers from the town centre it maybe encourage people back to the town,you dont get that in braehead or silverburn. as for interviewing wendy alexander, if her brother would stop stealing public money then maybe we could spend more money on bringing paisley back to life.

[wimblewomble21]

@pieman78 too true. Theyve taken every dreg & druggie in the west of scotland, & plonked them in Paisley. No doubt, paisley's allways had its problems. But 20 years ago, they locked them up in jail so there was less of them in the streets, The police were allowed to give problem makers a good kick in, & shop keepers were not returning back to work on monday to see that the shop windows have been panned in. The Paisley Express dusnae help either. Ur afraid to leave the house when u read it.

[tom080955]

We left Paisley for Canada back in 64. As a kid back then the place was alive and built up. on a trip back home I managed to visit my old school St Fergus' and did a walk around. Boy there was a lot of green and low buildings. with the airport 5 minutes away...Id go back for a visit and may even invest in the area. cheers.

[holmsatlarge]

I Liked it.THE decline started in the 1950`s.Many families left in the 1950`sand 1960`s to emigrate around the world. the Feggie Park footage was a surprise,as in my time it was dilapidated row tenements and a place people tried to avoid.Although your video shows newer housing,they seem almost as bad off .P.S. I noticed lots of greenery.that was only getting underway when I left 50 yrs. ago.