Progress in Rural Geography (Routledge Revivals) by Michael Pacione

Author:Michael Pacione [Pacione, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780415707602
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Published: 2014-12-04T00:00:00+00:00

The Dynamics of Change

Significant changes have taken place in rural areas with respect to the population, the distribution of facilities and the transport links. It is difficult to generalise, but an attempt will be made to highlight certain key issues which have a special relevance to transport provision and accessibility. The first dimension of change is the social one. From the 1981 census, there is some evidence of population growth in urban fringe areas, particularly in the southern part of Britain (see Chapter 4). Additionally, many upland areas have reversed the population declines of the 1960s (Randolph and Robert, 1981). However, the overall changes conceal the selective nature of the movers out of rural areas and the movers back into rural areas. The net result is that one is not left with a balanced profile of the total population but people with different life-styles and aspirations. There is the old established resident who may be elderly (about 25 per cent of the population in the remote rural areas are elderly, as compared with a national average of 17 per cent) and who has had to accommodate to declining levels of service; on the other hand there is the recent migrant who may have urban-based life-styles and only resides in the rural area but plays no active part in the rural community. In effect, one has communities within communities (Pahl, 1964).

The one persistent feature with respect to the provision of facilities has been the trend towards concentration into fewer, larger units. These units, particularly shops, are usually located in the urban centres and not locally, with the result that the distances to be travelled will be increased. There is also some evidence of school closure in rural areas, particularly in the primary school sector where a minimum of 50–60 pupils was considered by the Plowden Report (G.B., Department of Education, 1967) to be a ‘viable’ unit. Health-care facilities have become characterised by group practices with large catchment areas and hospital facilities have become both more centralised and specialised (Rigby, 1977). However, there is evidence to suggest that a reversal is now taking place with the growth of community hospital facilities. Many of these changes have taken place without a thorough consideration of the additional transport costs involved. Concentration has also resulted in the closure of local facilities, including shops, post offices and petrol stations (Association of County Councils, 1979; Taylor and Emerson, 1981). Petrol prices are typically about 15 per cent higher in rural areas and oil companies have been pursuing a policy of closure for small rural petrol stations; Shell and Esso closed 2,000 rural petrol stations in 1980 (Motor Agents Association, 1981). All these changes have resulted in a decline in the levels of local accessibility with an increase in the requirements for transport.

Table 6.1: Journey Lengths in Rural Areas — By Stage in Kilometres Purpose Rurala areas Mean for all areas % difference

Work 7.91 5.75 + 36

Education 4.10 2.56 + 60

Shopping 6.24 3.44 + 81

Social 9.95 7.40 + 34

Escort 7.

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