6.1 changes in rural settlements

Question 1

C. Bull et al. : The Geo of rural resources (1984)

Answer 1

• close knit community
• religion important
• strong family ties
• homogeneity of social traits
• less pronounced class distinction
• less mobility

Question 2

symptoms of rural change

Answer 2

• change in socio-economic profile
• growth in second home ownership
• increased home prices: pricing out locals
• decline in primary/secondary sector
• young dependants move for education
• decline in local services/access
• increasing isolation
• services tailored for older age group
• increase in hedgerows
• diversification of rural businesses
• expansion of cities into greenbelt
• gentrification

Question 3

counter-urbanisation

Answer 3

• urban to rural migration
  -crime,pollution , accommodation, perception of rural life
• morphology of metropolitan villages (Hudson 1977): stage 1: conversion of working and new building at edge, 2. ribbon development along roads leading out, 3. planned addition of council and private housing

Question 4

key villages

Answer 4

• central place theory: focusing service, facilities and employment in one selected settlement
• decline in dispersed/ private services: threshold population assured
• UK: 65 in 1970
• greatest accessibility, already existing services, small proximity to urban centres, availability for public utilities with capability for new development
• to counter rural depopulation: changing function in relation to urban centres
• hard to measure: decline in Devon slowed

Question 5

rural depopulation

Answer 5

• young adults migrate to regional centres
• population falls below replacement level
• reduction of business services due to falling demand
• key social service provision cut: induces further emigration and less immigration
• ageing population
• disintegration of balanced community

Question 6

issue of rural services

Answer 6

-due to depopulation
- effect of market forces and supermarkets compete
- more mobile residents with different shopping and consumer patterns increasing
- change in expectations: means and opportunity to access better services
- difficulty to find employment, lack of demand, transport supplies
- low return investment
- no infrastructural and social development

Question 7

issues with rural transport

Answer 7

• increase in car ownership
• isolation of poor, elderly, young
• fewer bus and rail passengers
• reduced frequency service
• higher fares
• poorer quality public transport
• not enough engineers
• difficult access
• emergency medical transport

Question 8

issues with rural housing

Answer 8

• young people move to market towns and large urban centres
• second home ownership increased
• extension of water, electricity and sewerage
• local workforce decreases
• fragmentation of agricultural land
• slowed economic growth
• low and unstable local income