The town whose council wants migrants to move in
The Scottish town of Greenock is actively encouraging migrants to move to the area to combat a long-term population decline. While the town has seen an increase in diversity, local officials emphasize that job creation is essential for long-term sustainability.
Why it matters
This highlights the intersection of demographic decline in post-industrial towns and the role of immigration in regional economic revitalization.
Image caption, The population of Greenock, on Scotland's west coast, has been falling for decades
A new shop opened along Greenock's fading High Street in May. Anik African Store has brought a small corner of Nigeria to the Scottish town, selling yams, plantain, okra and catfish.
It is not the only African food shop here - there is another just metres away, responding to the area's changing population.
Five years ago, locals say, it would have been rare to see a black person in Greenock. Now hundreds of Africans and refugees have moved to the area.
The local council has in fact come up with a plan to attract even more to this corner of the west of Scotland as a means of stemming its falling population.
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