Case Study → Past and present connections: shaping economic and social characteristics

Cobham → Rural	Barnsley → Rural
Introduction ● Known as a commuter village • easy access to London ○ Inside M25, SW London Rural-Urban fringe ● Most work in London in the knowledge economy, sits in the borough of Elmbridge, known as the stockbroker belt.	Introduction ● Past industries include coal mining, glassmaking and textiles ● It is a greenbelt area

| Regional connections
● M25 access to Heathrow • expanded to 5 lanes. Average speed limits • moving traffic
● Train station near-by
○ Regular trains into London
● London • makes it an attractive place to live for commuters • get some countryside
● Lack of national government intervention
○ But does not need it because it is successful.
● Mostly privately funded developments
National connections
● Conservative backing • Local MP Dominic Raab
● Relatively strong sense of community amongst neighbours but lacking in overall community • a lot of 'turnover' and lack of local groups | Regional connections
● South of yorkshire, between Leeds and Sheffield Global shift
○ 1980s transferred to knowledge economy
○ Coal mines closed down in July 1991
○ Cheaper in China and Australia
● Brexit vote for leaving the EU, lots of
anti-immigation sentiment. Votes for UKIP.
National connections
● Labour backing
● Residents say it has a strong sense of community |

| Global connections
● Lack of global brand retail outlets and branch factories • mainly designer and local shops on high street
● High volumes of estate agents
● Not overly seen as a tourism destination, although people come to visit Chelsea training ground etc
● Internet speeds are excellent
● Membership of EU • Immigration of EU Nationals • mixed (France/Germany).
● Global shift has not affected Cobham as Cobham has never been a manufacturing town.
● London is globally connected with Heathrow Cycling
- Olympics
○ Heathrow • business and further afield destinations.
● Covid 19 • London tourist destination from all over the world.
International connections
● Elmbridge is twinned with Rueil-Malmaison (France)
- since 1966
● LSOA (2019) • 28, 533 (among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in the country
● IMD (local authorities, 2019) = 317 | Global connections
● ASOS • on a former mining site, employs 4000 people
● 120 million spent on the town centre. Local market has been rebranded with a clear difference between the market in 2015 and 2019.
● Tour de Yorkshire event annually is an attempt by the local council to bring in more cycling tourists. Also keen to develop walking tourism as it has parts of the Trans-Pennine route for walkers
● Good broadband speeds
International connections
● Objective 1 Programme= ERDF £833,147,000
○ Queen's Business Centre • completely refurbished = renovated + restored
○ £1.1 million from ERDF • £3 million scheme
○ Interchange • European funding contributed to Barnsley's £24 million transport interchange
● European Union • Regional Development Fund
● 3hrs train to London
● Close proximity to Manchester
● Near to the M1 Two twinned towns
● Schwabisch Gmund • 1971
● Gorlovka, Ukraine • 1987
● LSOA (2019) • 23, 468 (among the 30% least deprived neighbourhoods in the country)
● IMD (local authorities, 2019) = 38 |

Internal/local factors that contribute to place identity ● Chelsea FC training ground means a lot of high end footballers live in the area. ● High demand for luxury houses • Fairmile. ● New school built to improve access to state education as education rates are low (near A3). ● A3 Wisley expanded junction History of Cobham ● Used to be split into 3 communities • Church Cobham, Street Cobham and Downside ● Known as 'Creature of the Mole' • due to the river that runs through Cobham ● Evidence of Roman occupation was found at a bathhouse excavated at Chatley Farm in 1942 ● St. Andrew parish church is Cobham's oldest building which dates from the 12th century ● Cobham Mill is one of the few working water mills in Surrey ● Painshill park is well known for its beauty and dates back far ONS statistics • 2011 census ● GENDER: Approximately 50-50 male/female split ● AGE: 26% 0-17 years, 55% 18-64 years, 19% 65+ ● COUNTRY OF BIRTH: 76% UK, 22.8% EU & other countries ● ETHNIC GROUP: 90% White, 5% Asian, 1% black ● HEALTH: 56% say they are in very good health ● 40% least deprived • crime (quite high) • mainly due to temptation ● 20% least deprived ● 23% professional workforce ● 40% least deprived environment

Internal/local factors that contribute to place identity ● Tour de yorkshire • 3 day event goes through Barnsley. Other cyclists ride through Barnsley to recreate it ○ Tour de France went through Yorkshire in 2014 ● Barnsley's industrial heritage is being emphasised by the local council, the Elsecar Heritage railway and museum is going to be extended to Cortonwood Retail Park. ● Barnsley has a strong cultural connection to the arts council, recognised for its cultural programme. Heritage lottery fund has invested in the Cooper Gallery. ● 1912 Barnsley F.C won the FA cup. Only time in history ● 1972 metropolitan borough of Barnsley formed by local government act. Was made a part of South Yorkshire county. History of Barnsley ● Known as a market town • In 1249, a Royal charter was granted to Barnsley permitting it to hold a weekly market on Wednesdays ● From the 17th century, Barnsley developed into a stop-off point on the route between Leeds, Wakefield, Sheffield and London. The traffic generated as a result of its location fuelled trade, with hostelries and related services prospering ● Barnsley has a long tradition of glass-making, however Barnsley is most famous for its coal mines ONS statistics • 2011 census ● GENDER: Approximately 50-50 male/female split ● AGE: 21% 0-17 years, 60% 18-64 years, 19% 65+ ● COUNTRY OF BIRTH: 97% UK, 3.2% EU & other countries ● ETHNIC GROUP: 98% White, 0.7% Asian, 0.5% black ● HEALTH: 41% say they are in very good health ● Income: Bottom 10% ● 4% professional workforce ● Crime: 10% most deprived ● Bottom 20% education ● 30% most deprived for living environment