UK challenges Flashcards
Views on migration
Migration offers increased workers who help grow the economy and pay taxes.
Others believe migration is good for multicultural aspects - learning ideas and cultures for different restaurants and services.
Young migrants balance the UK ageing population.
Local governments feel migration puts pressure on different services:
- Healthcare and education
- Housing competition leads to less affordability as prices increase
Political parties against economic migrants into the UK as they take jobs that could gone to British workers - racial tensions
The ‘two-speed’ economy
Refers to the idea that economic growth in the UK is not the same across the country.
Economic growth
People moving from areas (eg. Yorkshire) to work in the capital and the East - Reduces workforce and repels businesses investing in that area.
House prices rising considerably in London and South East - Approx. £400,000 in London.
Solutions to this economic growth
High Speed Rail 2 between London and North cities - construction majority takes place outside capital and generates jobs away from London.
Investing in better transport to improve movement of workers and goods across the north - easier for business to set up with more goods
Pressure on UK ecosystems
Increased population means more food production and agribusiness.
This could reduce natural habitats due to the removal of hedgerows to provide larger fields.
Demand for housing puts pressure on local governments to release Greenfield sites. Use of green belt land destroys open spaces and affects habitats due to increase surface runoff and erosion due to impermeable surfaces preventing drainage.
London Congestion Charge
London is a heavily polluted and congested city with 9500 deaths yearly due to air pollution.
Congestion charge introduced to reduce congestion and pollution.
Brought in to charge drivers of privately owned transport to enter the centre of London.
Since the introduction of the scheme:
- traffic levels have decreased by 10% within 10 years
- air pollution levels have decreased by 12%
Boris Bikes
Integrated cycle network which is easy and accessible - they’re located around London and paid using credit card depending on time used.
Over 2 million journeys have been made using the scheme, with a record of over 70,000 uses in a single day.
Greenfield sites (pros / cons)
Relatively cheap construction and rates of house building faster.
Layout not hampered by previous development.
Valuable farm or recreational land lost.
Wildlife and habitats destroyed due to development, noise and land pollution.
Brownfield sites (pros / cons)
Revives old, disused urban areas
Services such as water, electricity, gas and sewage already in place.
Expensive as old buildings have to be cleared and land cleared of pollutants.
Sometimes surrounded by ran down areas so doesn’t appeal to wealthy people as a residential location.
The New Forest - Sustainable woodland management
Conifers in conservation’s cut down and replaced by native species - deciduous trees.
Pesticides + herbicides used to avoid damage to the ecosystem .
Work between April and august is minimised so nesting birds are not disturbed.
The New Forest - Sustainable uses
Carparks in New Forest so people don’t park on roadside verges - special cycle routes have been set up through the park to guide visitors away from vulnerable areas.
Hotels and campsites encouraged to join in sustainable transport schemes eg. The New Forest tour.
Electric bikes & vehicles with charge points around the park.
Visitor leaflet ‘5 ways to love the forest’ explains why people should drive slow and / or leave the car behind
River Flooding - Hard engineering techniques (pros / cons)
Dredging is the removal of sediment and debris from the bottom of a river.
Dredging allows water to travel through the river quickly and away from areas at risk.
Water taken downstream may put other areas at risk, and doesn’t look natural.
River Flooding - Soft engineering techniques (pros / cons)
Wastelands are land deliberately flooded by a river or stream when water levels are too high.
Provides a safe place for the water to go, and slows down the flood.
May limit land use, or a change in land use such as farming.
Coastal Flooding - Hard engineering technique (pros / cons)
Groynes are wooden structures built along the beach at right angles.
They are quick to construct and interrupt longshore drift.
They trap the sediment and broaden the beach while the beach absorbs the waves energy.
Interruption of the movement of sediment can have impacts further along the coast.
While, rock groynes can be unsightly.
Beach nourishment - Soft engineering technique (pros / cons)
Beach nourishment is when sand or shingle is added to a beach to make it higher or wider.
The beach can absorb more wave energy and protect the coastline.
Sediment is obtained locally so blends in, encouraging tourism.
Needs constant maintenance, which can become expensive.
This work is often undertaken in the summer, disrupting beach users.
