Population Change in Rural Areas

Some areas are declining in population because:

1. Lack of services/things to do for young people
2. May lack accessibility

Some areas are expanding in population because:

1. Variety/Plentiful jobs oppurtunities, for example in the tourist industry
2. Elderly people retiring to more scenic areas
3. Less expensive to set up businesses or buy houses despite proximity to larger urban areas

Effect on Population pyramids:
Remote Rural Area in Decline eg Worth Matravers = 240 people

• Strong Retirement element or people who have lived there for many years
• Wasted shape as young people move away to look for work or cheaper housing
• Regressive base as few children are born

Consequences of decline:

1. Many of the people left behind are elderly with less mobility, limited means or disenfranchised
2. Houses may be brought as second homes creating a ghost town effect
3. People left behind may be unable to leave as they lack the skills or mobility

Accessible Rural Area Expanding eg Corfe Castle = 980 people

• Relatively fewer older people
• New arrivals who commute to work (91% of people have car access or work from home)
• Expanding population as there is a baby boom because of the young families who move into the area

Consequences of expansion:

1. 91% of families have 2 or more cars, increasing air pollution, congestion and likelihood of traffic accidents
2. Traditional rural identity may be lost due to influx of foreigners 
3. May be conflict between established locals and new families moving in

Changes in Services:

Changes for the better J

Changes for the worse L

-Opening more nurseries has created increased the number of children in schools. Grants and shared headships can be used to support schools -Many village stores have been replaced by supermarkets which have cheaper prices, longer opening hours and often run a bus service from local villages -Grants can be obtained for the refurbishment of village halls -Cooperation between post offices and banks to provide an combined service -Increase in number of mobile libraries -New types of village shops like farm shops or garage shops -Grants available for community bus or taxi services like the postal bus service which combines transport with letter delivery -Mini-health centres have been set up in larger villages and grants are available to support rural GPs and pharmacies

-Local services have been cut -Aging population means there are fewer school children, with schools competing for them or closing, and wealthy parents putting children into public schools -Post offices being downgraded to part time or hole in the wall, with pension services often being moved to banks -Some GPs have closed and there is a decline in dentist surgeries -Funds have been cut for youth clubs and activities for the elderly -Closure of uneconomic bus routes and reduction in cross-county services along with an increase in car ownership

   

	Purbeck	UK
0-14	18%	20%
15-64	60%	64%
65+	22%	16%