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Why is this theme important to small towns? |
Small towns require a strong image of safety if they are to attract people (see ‘Identity and Culture’ and ‘Marketing and Promotion’ components). Small towns are more vulnerable to changes in the community than are larger urban areas. This means that a reduction in the overall sense of safety in an area can very quickly have devastating effects (see ‘Jobs and Employment’ and ‘Tourism’ components). The social decline in a neighbourhood within the city does not effect the general population. The same cannot be said about the close-knit communities in small towns. In addition, resources in small towns are often limited. As a result, local authorities and other public agencies are often less capable of delivering quick solutions, such as CCTV.
In much the same way, community facilities play a much more significant role in small towns (see ‘Healthy Living and Community Well-Being’ component). Due to their scale, small towns struggle to provide all the facilities that a community needs and/or aspires to. In the city, the lack of, or closure, of a school, bank or post office means students and customers are redirected to other similar nearby services. In a small town, this could mean people are required to travel long distances, often with poor transport services (see ‘Transport and Infrastructure’ component). For this reason, the community facilities in small towns must be appropriately developed and then protected. This may be achieved through co-operation with neighbouring towns (see ‘Networks and Connections’ component).
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