Conclusion
- Small towns across Europe are very diverse settlements, depending upon their location, history, culture and circumstances. Some are dynamic and are experiencing growth and expansion (e.g. SusSET towns in Scotland) whilst others are fairly static but have the strong potential to grow (e.g. SusSET towns in Sweden). Many of Europe’s small towns are at the point of transition and are repositioning themselves for growth (e.g. SusSET towns in Poland and Greece). Unfortunately, some small towns are experiencing decline, often as a result of their peripheral locations and/or the collapse of their main employer(s).
- In Europe, it is general public policy to address issues of decline and market failure and to support those areas and settlements that lag behind - such as inner cities and remote rural areas. Funding is directed towards these areas and, although intervention may be fair and correct, it can often take many years to turn these situations around. Meanwhile, is it in Europe’s long-term interest to exclude many small towns from support?
- Most small towns face continual threats. The general move away from agriculture, fishing and heavy industry towards the service and knowledge economy is removing the traditional function of many towns. The proliferation of out-of-town retail has altered shopping patterns and the trend away from local outlets to national chains is changing the character of the high street. The increase in private car ownership is resulting in leakage in the town’s economy to larger towns and cities, a rise in commuting to work, and increased congestion and car parking problems in town centres. The increase in human movement across the EU in the past decade is resulting in much social adjustment in small towns. Particularly concerning is the migration of young people out of small towns and towards cities. The increase in demand for housing is resulting in the rapid physical expansion of some small towns and is creating rising costs, land shortages, increased consumption, and loss of environmental capital.
- Without strategic vision and positive planning, small towns can lose their ability to develop in a sustainable way. Failure to adapt and respond to current changes can result in problem towns of tomorrow requiring high intervention.
- Yet small towns are all potentially positive places. In most small towns, many people generally seem to appreciate the quality of life. Small towns matter to the people who live in them – unlike large cities, they possess a more intimate immediacy and a stronger sense of community. They tend to be safer places to inhabit; they provide easy access to the countryside; and can be more readily experienced by foot or bicycle. Although susceptible to external forces, they are still more manageable, especially in a holistic sense, than large towns or cities.
- Across Europe, the various small towns experience different political and administrative systems, as well as unique histories, cultures, and positions of wealth and status. This results in Europe’s small towns experiencing variable decision-making processes, funding situations and delivery mechanisms.
Nevertheless, the SusSET project has demonstrated that small towns experience common issues and problems. These mainly relate to (i) basic human needs and desires and (ii) the effects of international external forces, such as technology, social trends and the global economy. As a result, there is the strong potential for small towns to share transferable solutions and best practices with each other, especially in the fields of the local economy, the environment, leadership and management, working relationships, strategic visioning and action planning.
- It is clear that European small towns are better equipped to cope with future changes if they have a strategy in place . Such strategies should respond to a community’s core needs (clean air and water; food; shelter; a job; an education), its desires (to socialise; be entertained; trade; move around) and its well being (health; personal development; range of pleasurable experiences). These strategies should therefore be holistic and long term. They should be very local, but set within a wider strategic context.
- Most small towns mature over hundreds of years. Rapid expansion can be troublesome and is usually better if it is done slowly, organically and with community approval. Some towns will reach their environmental capacity and a long-term strategy may actually place a finite limit on a town boundary (and/or result in a sub-centre being proposed).
- Some towns will require strategies that take them towards a new role or function, e.g. a tourist harbour town; a cultural town; an education centre; a technology town. This being the case, co-operation, rather than competition, with neighbouring settlements should prove beneficial.
- The SusSET project highlighted some differences relating to location. A small town near a major town or city will have good access to jobs and more opportunities for leisure and recreation nearby, but will suffer increased house prices, high levels of commuting, and high economic leakage. A small town in its own rural hinterland will have its own distinct ‘catchment area’, good access to the countryside and a strong sense of community, but can be over reliant on traditional industry, have high populations of elderly people and have a reluctance to change. A small town on the coast has a major natural asset, since people are generally attracted to the sea. However, coastal towns can experience times of ‘boom and bust’ depending upon the tourist market and physical growth of the town may be restricted.
- With the right strategies in place, European small towns have the prospect of becoming more self-sufficient than they are currently. European small towns should work together through voluntary networks, formal associations and EU-backed programmes to increase their knowledge, capacity and ability to adapt and prosper. If this can all be achieved, Europe itself will become more sustainable, competitive and cohesive.
How your strategy all comes together is what we term a ‘Whole Town Strategy’ – to find out more click here Whole Town Strategy
Click to read our project’s Key Messages
Click to read our project’s Questions to you
or go to content
|
