Settlement dynamics 6.1

Question 1

What are some problems faced in rural areas in LIC’s?

Answer 1

• Unemployment/underemployment
• Population growth
• Rural-urban migration
• Low capital investment
• Human diseases
• War/Conflict/Corruption

Question 2

How do rural areas differ in HIC’s to LIC’s?

Answer 2

• Many rural areas in HIC’s have already gone through Growth, Decline and Redevelopment.
• Rural-urban migration and urbanisation took place much earlier in HIC’s
• HIC’s tend to have a far smaller primary sector.
• Counter-urbanisation is the dominant movement of people in HIC’s

Question 3

Which people tend to be part of counter-urbanisation?

Answer 3

• Commuters
• Retired people
• Second-home owners
• Skilled people able to work from home

Question 4

What are the effects of counter-urbanisation?

Answer 4

• Businesses and services in these areas expand due to increase in population.
• Demand for houses in towns and villages has increased meaning new houses have been built.
• Improved communications has allowed an increase in telecommuting.
• Leads to an ageing population as house prices have rapidly increased.

Question 5

How can counter-urbanisation be managed?

Answer 5

• Redevelopment of ‘brownfield’ sites rather than allowing the town to sprawl into the countryside.
• New, high-density housing is built near to town centres.
• Housing associations build ‘affordable’ houses that only locals can buy.
• Development of the tourist industry (e.g. villages in Cornwall have been turned into picturesque fishing villages).

Question 6

Wheddon Cross, Exmoor, Case Study: background/statistics

Answer 6

• Wheddon Cross is a village based in Exmoor National Park.
• It has a population of 361.
• 24% of 16+ have no qualifications.
• 28% are economically inactive.

Question 7

Wheddon Cross, Exmoor, Case Study: what problems do they face?

Answer 7

• Growing ageing population.
• Far from services such as healthcare so significant amount of people that are ill.
• Lack of ambition of high earning jobs due to many families passing down agricultural roles etc.
• Lack of ability to attract skilled workers into the area.

Question 8

Wheddon Cross, Exmoor, Case Study: solutions

Answer 8

• Affordable housing scheme: Aimed at households who have some savings but are still unable to buy a starter home, allowing them to remain in the community. Purchasers will need to prove that they have lived within the area for 10 years.
• Introduction of local high tech firms: Shearwell data now ships products worldwide and employs 55 people.
• Cutcombe livestock market was redeveloped and now draws in customers from all over the country.
• Superfast broadband: Exmoor National Park Authority is committed to supporting superfast broadband as soon as possible, by working with the Connecting Devon and Somerset project.