Southall

Question 1

How is cultural change seen in the built environment in Southall?

Answer 1

• Places of worship:
  
  • 10 gurdwaras, Sri Guru Singh Sabha is largest gurdwara outside of India
  • 2 large mandirs
  • 10 churches
  • 3 mosques
• largest South Asian shopping area within M25
  
  • centred around Broadway, clothes and food from subcultures within SE Asian region sold

Question 2

What was cultural cohesion like in Southall in the past?

Answer 2

• poor
• 1979, Blair Peach was killed
  
  • anti-racism activist
  • knocked unconscious and later died during counter protest against National Front

Question 3

How did immigration initially occur in Southall?

Answer 3

• first group of South Asians arrived in 1950
  
  • working in local factory owned by former British Indian soldier
• immigration to replace workers killed in WWII to rebuild London

Question 4

Why did migrants choose Southall?

Answer 4

• Proximity to Heathrow
  
  • creating increasing employment opportunities
• transport links into London
• Bridgehead communities
  
  • greater acceptance + support to adjustment to new way of life
  • more familiar atmosphere to home

Question 5

How has media contributed to Southall’s perception?

Answer 5

• Positive, reflects multicultural nature and cohesion of community
• main location for “Bend it Like Beckham”, internationally acclaimed
• main location for many Bollywood films:
  
  • Patiala House
  • Goal!

Question 6

How is Southall changing at present?

Answer 6

• migration into by Kosovan, Afghan, Somali and East-Europeans
• Punjabi community is moving into Hayes, Harrow and other Thames Valley towns
  
  • further away from London
  • similar to white flight

Question 7

How is accessibility addressed in Southall?

Answer 7

• railways station signs are bilingual
  
  • in English and Gurmukhi script (Punjabi)
  • only bilingual sign on entire TfL network