3.4 Managing urban settlements Flashcards
How do slums form?
Income inequality, lack of growth and in migration cause poverty and lack of affordable housing and so people who wish to live in the city but cannot afford to build slums, often located near gullies, on floodplains, river banks, along railways, beside main roads, adjacent to industrial areas, on slopes - pretty much unwanted and dangerous land.
What are some difficulties shanty towns face?
Do not own the land, houses are weak and not weatherproof and subject top or weather and climate, no proper water supply or sanitation - diseases, no refuse collection, no electricity supply, located out of the city so little local employment, extreme poverty, high unemployment, high overcrowding, high crime levels, steep slopes and mudslides, long journeys to the centre of cities, local employment is often in the informal sector.
What may be some solutions to the problems shanty towns face?
Low cost housing schemes provide basic housing with running water, electricity and proper sanitation which can be done with people who have employment and can pay rent. Self help schemes may help provide groups of people with the materials needed to build houses. The provision of basic services such as sewerage, piped water and refuse collection can help as well.
Traffic congestion is an issue as many of the cities were not built to have cars and transport and the usage of transport has risen in demand and so many of these areas struggle with roads or transport. Transport policies may be put in place such as introducing new forms of transport, new roads and ring roads help traffic flow without going through the centre, traffic lights improve safety of such and speed up the flow.
Underground railways are also put in place such as in London and airports which are often developed out of the city to reduce congestion
