Newton Mearns is a small suburban town within East Renfrewshire, Scotland. It lies southwest of Glasgow on the main road to Ayrshire, above sea level.^[1] and has a population of approximately 22,637,^[2]

The town is part of the Greater Glasgow conurbation. Its name derives from being a new town of the Mearns (from Scottish Gaelic "a' Mhaoirne" meaning a stewartry, cf The Mearns)

History

Until the 20th century, the land around Newton Mearns was primarily agricultural. Ownership passed from the Pollocks (whose name is perpetuated in the nearby Glasgow housing estate of Pollok) to the Maxwells of Caerlaverock around 1300. It then passed to the Maxwells of Nether Pollok in 1648 and then the Stewarts of Blackhall in 1660. A new turnpike road from Eastwood Toll, now the main Ayr Road, was constructed in 1832 ^[3]. From then on, with the introduction of improved roads and railways to the area, it became established as a growing commuter suburb of Glasgow. To the late Victorian villas of Whitecraigs were added large estates of bungalow houses and modern developments continue to the present day.

The area has been referred to by the Glaswegian term Spam valley on occasion. The name comes from the rumour that the residents of Spam Valley had paid so much for their houses that although they appeared wealthy to the local population they were actually nearing poverty and were reduced to eating low-cost meat product Spam.

Historical buildings in the area include the 15th century Mearns Castle^[4], and the 1813 Mearns Kirk^[5].

Governance

Following the breakup of Strathclyde Regional Council in 1996, Newton Mearns became part of the new East Renfrewshire council area. As part of this area, it is represented by Jim Murphy MP and Ken Macintosh MSP in the Parliament of the United Kingdom and the Scottish Parliament respectively.

On more than one occasion, Glasgow City Council has applied to the Scottish Boundaries Commission to have Newton Mearns re-allocated to its control (primarily for the lucrative council tax revenues that would result). However, these attempts have always proved unsuccessful.

Councillors

As a result of the introduction of the Single Transferable Vote system for Scottish local council elections, it was planned that, in time for elections taking place in and after 2007, the town would be divided into two multi-councillor wards: Liboside and Newton Mearns North and Newton Mearns South.^[6] However, due to a number of complaints about the new divisions, the former was renamed Neilston, Uplawmoor and Newton Mearns North, in a move to keep Neilston an integral part of the council.^[7] The current councillors for the areas are as follows:

Neilston, Uplawmoor and Newton Mearns North

Newton Mearns South

Economy

Newton Mearns is a primarily residential area, with most of its inhabitants travelling by car or public transport to nearby Glasgow for employment and shopping. However, there are a number of small businesses in the area, as well as an indoor shopping centre.

Avenue Shopping Centre

The Avenue Shopping Centre is the only large retail centre in Newton Mearns. It comprises a total of 44 stores, currently including two supermarkets (Asda and M&S), five banks, nine clothing stores and one Subway sandwich shop. The line of the main mall at the Avenue runs the course of the old Newton Mearns high street.

Transport

Traffic through the town was reduced significantly after the new M77 motorway extension was opened in the late 1990s. The motorway was completed despite strong opposition from campaigners in the nearby Darnley, Arden and Pollok areas of Glasgow, who saw their communities divided by the new road. Transport links improved further in May 2006 with the opening of the Glasgow Southern Orbital dual carriageway, and its connection to the M77 extension.

As well as minor and major roads, the town has bus links with the centre of Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ayr. The town is served by two local train stations, Patterton and Whitecraigs, both link Newton Mearns with Glasgow Central station.

Education

One factor that has made the town popular with families is the variety and quality of local schools. The town is served by four Primary schools and two High schools,^[8] as well as one independent secondary school:^[9]

Primary Schools

• Kirkhill Primary School
• St. Cadoc's Primary School
• Crookfur Primary School
• Mearns Primary School

Secondary Schools

• Eastwood High School
• Mearns Castle High School
• Belmont House School (Independent School)

Religion

• Newton Mearns Baptist Church
• Newton Mearns Parish Church
• Maxwell Mearns Castle Parish Church
• Broom Parish Church of Scotland
• St Cadoc's Parish Church

Newton Mearns, along with nearby Giffnock, also houses a large proportion of Glasgow's Jewish community, and there are both Reformed and Orthodox synagogues ^[10].

Leisure

Newton Mearns contains a number of parks, notably Rouken Glen and the National Trust-owned Greenbank Gardens ^[11]. There are numerous golf clubs, rugby and bowling clubs, and a private leisure centre in addition to the council-run swimming pool and leisure centre in Eastwood Park, between Newton Mearns and Giffnock.

References

External links

• East Renfrewshire Council
• The Avenue Shopping Centre
• St Cadoc's Church
• Broom Parish Church of Scotland
• Mearns Church
• Maxwell Mearns Castle Parish Church (Church of Scotland)
• Newton Mearns Baptist Church
• St. Cadoc's Primary School

Satellite images

• Google Maps
• Windows Live Local

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