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New Towns (clip)

1969 film outlining plans to build a better Scotland

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Description

A study of the new towns of East Kilbride, Glenrothes, Cumbernauld and Livingstone. The film considers how each new town has developed and grown in its own way. Aspects of housing, architecture, communications, industry, leisure, education, environmental considerations and health and traffic are all considered.

Questions & Activities

Questions

  • What kind of messages does the film try to give about new towns (look at techniques used)? Does the film persuade you?
  • List problems with housing conditions in Glasgow and the ways New Towns would improve these
  • How long do you think it takes to build a new town?
  • The narrator says 'In the next ten years one in ten of Glasgow's citizens will find a home elsewhere', how were people persuade to move to the new town?
  • Where do towns get their names from?

Activities

Geography: Compare the success of the English new towns mentioned in the clip (Welwyn Garden City and Letchworth Garden City) with the Scottish new towns.

Health and Wellbeing / Citizenship: What other measures were taken across Britain to improve quality of life for citizens?

Geography / Art and Design: Design and plan your own new town, present to your class to persuade them to move in.

Geography / Social History / Modern Studies: The film says Glasgow is a 'city in transition', is this still true?

Social Studies / Geography: Create an action plan for improving your local area.

Media Studies / Geography / Social Studies: Make a short documentary highlighting an environment or social problem in your local area.

Technologies / Geography: Explore what changes in industry and employment have occurred in Glasgow since World War Two.

Clip Details

Record Id 007-000-000-255-C
Resource Rights Holder National Library of Scotland
Project Ref 1826
Date 1969
Genre Documentary, Educational
School Subject Geography, Social Studies, Modern Studies, Technologies, Media Studies, Art and Design
Who Educational Films of Scotland (sponsor), Park Film Studios (production company)
Where Cumbernauld, East Kilbride, Glenrothes, Livingston
Clip Length 3:59
Film Length 22:00