ABSTRACT
Beyond the nodes and axes of urban development straddling Western Europe are found a wide range of rural areas with varied physical resources and socio-economic characteristics but normally distinguished by relatively low densities of settlement, stable or declining population numbers (largely due to out-migration to urban centres), relatively low average incomes (resulting from agricultural employment), a shortage of alternative jobs, and poorer provision of services and facilities than in urban areas. For these and other reasons the component parts of the rural residuum have long been recognized as ‘problem areas’ and this fact is reflected in the delimitation of zones for financial assistance undertaken by national governments and by the E.E.C. (Figures 2.7 and 2.8). But, on the other hand, rural areas form relatively unspoiled alternative environments for weekend recreation and holidaymaking by city dwellers. In addition, they represent ‘reservoirs’ of land from which space will be abstracted for constructing housing, factories, roads, airports and other material features of urban civilization. Planning future uses of Western Europe’s countryside demands that a delicate balance be established between conserving valuable resources and permitting sufficient change and economic development for the living standards of country dwellers to be improved.
