Paisley is flying high thanks to Purple Flag status

Paisley’s status as a safe, inviting night time destination has been celebrated by the installation of its Purple Flag in the town centre.

Councillor Marie McGurk, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Communities, Housing and Planning Board, with the Purple Flag

The town was awarded Purple Flag status in January this year in recognition of its thriving evening and night time economy, becoming just the fourth place in Scotland to be awarded the status.

Councillor Marie McGurk, Nicola Williamson, Senior Environment Coordinator, Renfrewshire Council and Eileen Heron

The Purple Flag is the benchmark for good night time destinations and town and cities must provide a vibrant and diverse mix of dining, entertainment and culture, while promoting the safety and well-being of visitors and local residents to achieve the status.

Councillor Marie McGurk raising the Purple Flag

Councillor Marie McGurk, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Communities, Housing and Planning Policy Board, said: “We are delighted that Paisley has been recognised as an exciting, diverse, safe place to enjoy a night out and we’re proud to fly the Purple Flag in our town centre.

“To achieve the status we had to show Paisley was welcoming to all, offers safe ways for visitors to travel home and provides a range of inviting establishments for people to visit.

“The work that has gone on behind the scenes with each of the partners involved has been fantastic and the final application proved just how deserving the town is of Purple Flag status.

“As we look ahead to the decision on Paisley’s bid for UK City of Culture 2021, the achievement of this status is yet further evidence that Paisley is an attractive and vibrant place for people to visit and spend money in.”

The application for Purple Flag status was developed by Renfrewshire Council and Paisley First, with input from close partners including Scotrail, Police Scotland, Paisley Pubwatch, Renfrewshire Cabs, Paisley Street Pastors and Paisley and West Community Council, and considered five key themes: Wellbeing, Movement, Appeal, Place and Policy.

Councillor Marie McGurk and Eileen Heron, Project Leader, Paisley First

Ian Henderson, Chairman of Paisley First, said: “When the much-coveted Purple Flag was awarded to Paisley in early 2017, it was an important milestone event. It endorsed the town as a safe place to have an entertaining night out and we are delighted that the award has been renewed.

Councillor Marie McGurk, Nicola Williamson, Senior Environment Coordinator, Renfrewshire Council and Eileen Heron

“The award is particularly reassuring to the thousands of students who come from overseas to Paisley each year to study. Paisley First would like to thank all of the local stakeholders involved with the Purple Flag that have worked hard to retrain the accreditation.”

The Purple Flag programme is managed by the Association of Town and City Management (ATCM) which works in partnership with key stakeholder groups backed by the government, police and businesses, as well as UK sponsors, Diageo Great Britain.

There are more than 70 towns and cities across the UK and Ireland who are accredited with Purple Flag status, including UK City of Culture host cities Hull and Londonderry.

For more information visit: www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/purpleflag