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Why is this theme important to small towns? |
The planning process, in its widest sense, allows small town communities and town officials to shape activities and spatial development to ensure sustainability.
In comparison with larger settlements, small towns are particularly vulnerable to change. All too often, small towns experience town serious impact as a result of change taking place either within the town or its surroundings. This can include anything from the closing of a factory, the opening of a nearby shopping centre, or even a gradual population decline as young people move away (See ‘Jobs and Employment’, ‘Town Centre Management’, and ‘Housing’ components).
Small expanding towns, while not experiencing town ‘death’, are also vulnerable to change.
Many small towns have grown up organically over many years, perhaps even centuries, at locations of geographical and historical significance
(see ‘Identity and Culture’ component).
) . New development and a rapid n increase in population will have an inevitable impact on the innate ‘character’ of the town. This includes the impact on natural features, such as waterways, coastal areas or other forms of landscape (See ‘Natural Heritage’ and ‘Environmental Quality’ components). It also includes the changing ‘feel’ of the town as the built environment expands and takes on new form (See ‘Built Heritage’ component). All of this change ultimately effects the ‘sense of place’ experienced by residents old and new.
- In comparison to larger settlements, long term planning is perhaps more important in small towns.
Careful long term planning is therefore essential and, especially in the case of small towns, highly possible.
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