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What are the consequences of small towns ignoring the theme? |
With limited transport choices, there tends to be a high level of car ownership in small towns. The sustainability impacts of this depend on the types of cars people choose to own and how often they choose to drive them. Car congestion can occur in small towns and contributes to the kind of pollution that has been linked to global warming (see ‘Environmental Quality’ component). In addition, car dependency can contribute to:
- Unnecessary loss of natural environment and reduced levels of access due to vehicle-related urban sprawl;
- Increased numbers of motor vehicle accidents which result in serious injury or death;
- Decreased levels of physical activity leading to obesity;
- Loss of people using town centre shops and services to out-of-town shopping centres leading to reduced economic investment; or
- Decreased levels of social encounters resulting in the loss of community spirit.
- A deterrent to employment recruitment and/or retention
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