Issues Facing Inner City Areas Flashcards
What are some challenges associated with living in inner city areas?
Housing issues
Traffic issues
Cultural issues
housing issues-what are houses like in the inner city?
-Terraced houses that were built over 100 years ago to house workers in nearby factories.
-They are cramped with little space around them
-There may be very little green space nearby
-For families with children, there is limited play space and the streets may be busy with vehicles
What were inner city houses like inside originally
-No bathrooms. Toilet was at the end of a yard.
-Homes heated by coal fire
-They may be prone to damp as there is no cavity wall (gap between the inner and outer walls of the building)
-The electrical systems and fixtures such as windows and doors may be in need of replacement.
What are inner city houses like now?
-They may be prone to damp as there is no cavity wall (gap between the inner and outer walls of the building)
-The electrical systems and fixtures such as windows and doors may be in need of replacement.
What is the inner city community like?
-once housed very strong communities with neighbours looking out for each other and children playing together in the street and in each other’s houses
-While there are still some strong communities, most have less strong ties as new residents move in and the original residents become elderly or move out of the area
-There is also higher unemployment in such areas
What is gentrification?
Gentrification is the process where people with higher incomes buy properties and renovate them to live in themselves. This has some advantages and disadvantages.
-Some parts of an inner city become attractive to more wealthy people who start to live there again.
-As the richer people move in, the area becomes more desirable, prices rise and the poor have to move elsewhere sometimes to the suburbs.
-Upmarket services e.g. delicatessens, bistros can move into the area.
-Sometimes old buildings are taken over and converted into residential properties.
What are advantages and disadvantages of gentrification
Advantages:
-Old buildings are preserved and maintained
-The streetscape may be improved with the planting of trees and provision of new facilities
-Smart shops, cafes and bars often open with the new influx of wealth
-The area can be improved in appearance with more wealthy residents improving the properties
Disadvantages:
-The sense of community can be undermined for the original residents
-The original residents would prefer a small corner shop and do not value, or can afford, services like coffee bars.
-The difference between the wealthy newcomers and the relatively poor original residents may lead to resentment
-The price of renting or buying properties increases as the area becomes gentrified, pricing local people out of the area
What are traffic issues in the inner city
Inner city areas were built before most people had cars and the main mode of transport was walking or taking public trams or buses.
Now the areas around the CBD in most cities are full of cars.
As the inner city is the zone next to the CBD with all its shops and offices, workplaces and places of entertainment, people who bring their cars in, often park their cars in the terraced streets close to the centre.
Many local residents will also have their own cars, but these terraced houses were not built with a garage, nor do they generally not have space to build any. The result is increased congestion in the inner city. This has a negative consequences for air quality and journey times.
What is the impact of congestion on air quality
-Air quality in cities like London is so poor it is illegal. Most of this pollution is caused by diesel vehicles which emit nitrogen dioxide (NO2).
-The lungs of children are stunted , affecting them for life. This also increases the chances of getting asthma or lung cancer.
-It’s not just pedestrians, even those driving a car are affected.
-The government estimates that this pollutant leads to the premature deaths of 23,500 people across the UK each year and 70,000 across Europe.
How is journey time affected
-London has about 20 percent of all the UK’s congestion
-Congestion can now add over 2 mins 40 secs to travel a kilometre
Would the use of public transport solve issues
-Many residents rely on public transport which is good for the environment but can be expensive
-Time wasted on waiting for connections or having to take and indirect route
What COST impact does traffic have on parking in the inner city
-Residents paying for resident only parking
-Inner city parking may add up to be expensive
-Fees for parking illegally may be very high
What AVAILABILITY impact does traffic have on parking
-Residents don’t have driveways so will park on the street (possibly away from their homes)
-Drivers may circle around the area looking for a space creating more congestion and pollution
-Residents may struggle to get a space as commuters may park their cars in the inner city
What are three cultural issues
Ethnic tensions:
When tensions arise between the host community and recent arrivals
Religious tensions:
In London hate crimes against Muslims have been on the rise
Women are more often the subject of attacks perhaps because their clothes mark them out as Muslim
Language barriers:
Access to health care if little English and signs are only in English
Access to any state services or employment
May find it hard to fit in
