Wokingham - Local Place Case Study Flashcards
What’s the location of Wokingham
Wokingham is a market town in Berkshire, England. It’s 37 miles west of London, 7 miles south east of reading. Postcode RG40 or RG41
What buildings and infrastructure are in Wokingham
Historic town hall in the centre of Wokingham built on rose street
Traditional and historic character
Modern with new housing development
Leisure centre - gym, pool, library
Railway station
Businesses
Homes and housing
Parks
Churches
Schools
Describe the topography of wokingham
Wokingham is 30 to 70 metres above sea level and has mainly flat land.
Sloping landforms with subtle valleys formed by the emm brook. The emm brook flows through Wokingham and it’s floodplain is built on.
It has green spaces and woodland
What is the land use of wokingham
Largely residential with flats and homes
Also has lots of businesses and shops (commerce)
Used for leisure -gyms and elm park
Transport like bus routes and railway station connecting Wokingham to London
History of wokingham
- market town
- cock fighting was popular in Wokingham
- bull baiting took place once a year where markets are held today, right before Christmas, baited by dogs. Meat and leather was given to the poor in the town
- ## bell foundry - in 14th and 16th centuries Wokingham was well known for it’s bell foundry which supplied churches across the south of England and during Tudor period Wokingham was a well known producer of silk
What are some social demographic characteristics of Wokingham
-In 2021 15.3% of residents were ethnic
-the median age of Wokingham is 41
-46.5% of people in Wokingham reported there health as very good
- 2.2% described their health as bad
-main ethnic group is white at 79% and 2nd highest is Asian British at 12.9%
-residents born in England reduce 84% to 78%
- 30% of residents are 35-54
- 15% are young adults (20-34)
- ageing population as well as young families
Education - 45% of people in Wokingham have a level 4 bachelors degree
What are some community aspects of Wokingham
Farmers markets
Charities and charity shops
Transport and people can commute to london
Economic characteristics of wokingham
-Over 60% of households aren’t deprived
-average house price in Wokingham is £522,000
- aged 16-64, 78.6% were employed in 2023, a decrease from the year before at 83%
How is Wokingham linked to other places
- M4 corridor connects to London, south east and silicon valley - allowing Wokingham to be a commuter town
- railway station links to Gatwick airport and london
- ## local transport with bus and train to reading
Housing is Wokingham
Government allocated that Wokingham had to build more housing with a target to build 500 more a year
Houses have been built in multiple sites of building and there are 9000m^2 of commercial sites
The area is cleaner and nicer with more residential greenspaces
How has increasing population impacted wokingham
Area and roads are busier and more congested - may be harder to get public transport as buses may be full
Busier restaurants
Harder to get doctors appointments
More money spent in the area
More ethically diverse
What’s the impact of the ageing population
More retired people so decreased economic activity
More health issues so take up hospitals
