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Newton Mearns is a small suburban town 7 miles southwest of Glasgow, Scotland. It has a population of approximately 22,637^[1], and is 410 feet above sea level. ^[2].

Contents 1 Transport 2 Schools 3 Local government 3.1 Councillors 4 Commerce 4.1 The Avenue Shopping Centre 5 External links 5.1 References 5.2 Satellite images

Traffic through the town was reduced significantly when the new M77 motorway extension was opened in the late 1990s - despite 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, from which passengers can switch to trains to other parts of the west of Scotland or to West Coast mainline trains.

One factor that has made the town popular with families is the variety and quality of local schools, including Mearns Primary School and Mearns Castle High School. The town is served by four Primary Schools and three High Schools. Due to its relative affluence the area is also home to several independent schools, including Belmont House School.

Following the breakup of Strathclyde Regional Council in 1996, Newton Mearns became part of the new East Renfrewshire Council area.

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

Newton Mearns is divided up into five council wards for representation on East Renfrewshire Council- currently all of these are held by the Conservative Party.

• Broom: Cllr Barbara Grant
• Crookfur: Cllr Leslie Rosin
• Greenfarm: Cllr Charlie Gilbert JP
• Kirkhill: Cllr Iain Drysdale
• Mearns: Cllr Ian S. Hutchison OBE JP
• Mearnskirk: Cllr Graeme Dunn

As a result of the introduction of the Single Transferable Vote system for Scottish local council elections, from 2007 the town will be divide into two multi-councillor wards: Liboside and Newton Mearns North and Newton Mearns South.^[3]

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 some small businesses in the area, and an indoor shopping mall.

This is the only large retail development in Newton Mearns. It comprises a total of 44 stores, currently including two supermarkets, five banks, and nine clothing stores with ASDA being the largest of these stores.^[4]

• East Renfrewshire Council
• Mearns Community Council
• Avenue Shopping Centre
• Newton Mearns Parish Church
• The Church of St Cadoc, Fruin Ave, Newton Mearns
• The Broom Church
• Mearns Church
• Maxwell Mearns Parish Church
• Newton Mearns Baptist Church
• St. Cadoc's RC Primary
• St. Ninians Secondary School

1. ^ East Renfrewshire Council, 'People of East Renfrewshire'PDF (108KB), retrieved 18th May 2005
2. ^ Edinburgh University - Gazetteer of Scotland
3. ^ Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland, 'Statutory Review of Local Government Election Arrangements - East Renfrewshire council area', retrieved 12th September 2005
4. ^ The Avenue Shopping Centre website, retrieved 23rd April 2006

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Coordinates: 55°46′N 4°20′W