What problems are being faced in remote, rural areas of the UK like the Scottish Highlands and Islands? (15 marks)
The declining population in these remote rural areas is the largest contributing factor to the problems in these areas. A declining population leads to the rural economy being unable to sustain itself if there is a significant population drop as there has been in areas of Scotland. Between 1998 and 2008 the population of Scotland dropped by about 5%. People are leaving these areas for better opportunities such as better education for children. However, these people are being replaced to some extent as older people move to the more rural areas for retirement. This can create more problems as it means that the already fragile economy must deal with some people who may end up being unable to look after themselves.
Most people leaving small remote communities are either young adults, between the ages of 15 and 24, or families with young children. Although they leave for a variety of reasons, the most common are to find jobs or to have better access to educational and medical facilities. The loss of young people has far-reaching consequences for rural communities. Young men and women who would normally become community leaders, establish local businesses, or contribute to the overall vitality of rural places have instead exported their talents and energies elsewhere. Without younger generations to replace the older ones, it will eventually become difficult for many rural communities to exist.
Northumberland is effectively ageing and has fewer and fewer young people. This means that there are issues with providing care homes for the elderly but also has big knock on impacts for schools there. Many of the schools have been forced to go from a 3 tier school system - preschool, primary and secondary schools - to a 2 tier system - primary and secondary - in order to save money by closing smaller uneconomic schools. It also has long term economic impacts for the economic sustainability of the region. This is an example of how the education system can collapse if the schools are under-utilised and hence put in jeopardy the education of the children left, the teachers working at the schools and could lead to school closure.
The loss of so many young people has significantly altered small-town demographics. Depleted of their younger generations, rural communities are left with increasingly aging populations. As rural populations continue to age and young people continue to leave, the labour force will likely shrink and push local economies into deeper decline. At the same time, the aging population places greater demands on the already limited health-care facilities available in rural areas. As more resources withdraw from rural communities, the standard of living decreases. Residents often have to travel long distances to meet their educational, medical, and consumer needs, or adapt to living with limited access to goods and services often taken for granted in larger centres. At the same time, the populations of most rural communities are aging and therefore in increasing need of medical attention and other public services. This is one of the main problems being faced in remote areas.
Maintaining the quality of existing services is another problem in rural communities. With few tax dollars available to spend, many municipalities are unable to improve roads, public buildings, and other facilities that have fallen into disrepair. Keeping enough professionals within small communities to provide essential services is also difficult. Rural doctors, nurses, and teachers often have to service a larger number of patients or students than their urban counterparts, making it more difficult for them to provide the same level of care.
In conclusion, the problems are ultimately in a downward spiral, as all the problems faced are linked. The more people that leave, the worse the economy will get and thus lead to more of the younger people leaving, before one problem is fully addressed and tackled the problems will continue to get worse and cannot be solved.