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Citizens of Somewhere

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Factual: Life Stories

John Harris talks to people around the UK about their lives and how they see the future.

John Harris of the Guardian presents a new series telling the story of the UK in 2021 through the voices and stories of ordinary people in four places with a distinctive identity.

Citizens of Somewhere: Perth

Perth

BBC Radio 4 - Citizens of Somewhere, Perth

John Harris talks to people in Perth about their lives and how they see the future.

John Harris talks to people in the central Scottish city of Perth about their lives and how they see the future.

John Harris present the last programme in his series about the lives of people in four places in the UK with strong identities. This week he and producer Leala Padmanabhan are in the Scottish city of Perth. How do its citizens feel about their lives in 2021 and how do they see the future?

Perth - once the capital of the medieval kingdom of Alba - is in the centre of Scotland.  Often described as the 'Gateway to the Highlands', the city is surrounded by countryside. 

John begins his journey at an arable and fruit farm on the outskirts of the city, talking to farmer David Leslie about Brexit, labour shortages, Scottish independence and the climate emergency - a theme which has risen to prominence this summer and in the run up to the COP 26 summit in Glasgow in November. Climate change is a theme which runs throughout the programme and John also visits a renewable energy company based in the city which develops hydro electricity projects across the Highlands. 

In Perth city centre John chats to shoppers about emerging from the pandemic, the state of the high street and the prospect of another referendum on Scottish independence.  

Although a relatively affluent city, Perth also has areas of disadvantage, including the North Muirton estate, where John talks to residents and local campaigners about efforts to improve the environment and community life. 

John and Leala also join a weekly well-being walk round Perth's North Inch park, organised by local Chinese takeaway owner Pete Chan to help people who became isolated during the Covid lockdown. 

Producer: Leala Padmanabhan
Mixed by Hal Haines

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