bristol - gcse geography aqa

• where is Bristol?

  - largest city in south west England.- population of 440 500, and its population is expected to reach 500 000 by 2029.- is one of the UK's 10 'core cities'.
• why is Bristol a major UK city?

  - has 2 universities.- largest concentration of silicon chip manufacture outside California.- 2 cathedrals (Bristol - anglican, and Clifton - roman catholic).- UK's 8th most popular city for foreign visitors (attractions inc. Brunel's ship SS Great Britain, Bristol Zoo).- several theatres and music venues (famous Bristol Old Vic theatre, home to Aardman, animators of Wallace and Gromit).- strategic position on M4 corridor, with good road and rail links, and easy access to London.
• why is Bristol an important international city?


  - 2 major docks (Avonmouth and Royal Portbury, and the UK's most centrally-located deep-sea container port).- around 700 000 cars are imported each year from Germany, Japan, and Korea.- rail and ferry links to Europe, and Bristol airport links the city to major European centres and the USA.- change from dependence on traditional industry like tobacco and paper, to development of global industries, such as financial and business services, defence, aerospace, technology, culture, and media.- high level of inward investment, inc. FDI (Foreign Direct Investment), in manufacturing (companies such as Airbus, BMW, and Siemens), finance and high-tech businesses.- Bristol University attracts students from all over the world, providing graduates for professional, managerial, and knowledge-based jobs.
• what impacts have migration had on Bristol?

  POSITIVE:- a hard-working and motivated workforce.- enriching city's cultural life eg. St Paul's Carnival.- mainly young migrants help to balance the ageing population.- contributing to local and national economy.- improving the level of skills, where there are shortages.NEGATIVE:- challenge of integration into wider community.- need to provide education for children whose first language is not English.- pressure on housing and employment.
• how has Bristol's population changed?

  - between 1851 and 1891, Bristol's population has doubled, and in recent years, migration from abroad has accounted for half of Bristol's population growth.- 50 countries are represented in Bristol's population.
• how has urban change created social opportunities?

  CULTURAL MIX:- Bristol's youthful population: Colston Hall has concerts and entertainment, and Bristol Old Vic, Bristol Hippodrome, and the Tobacco Factory provide a wide choice of entertainment.- St. Paul's Carnival attracts 40 000 each year.LEISURE AND RECREATION:- sport: 2 professional football teams (City and Rovers) and a rugby union team, and is also the headquarters of Gloucestershire County Cricket: all teams are developing their stadiums to provide a range of leisure and conference facilities and accommodation. Rovers plan to develop facilities for everyone, not only sports fans.- shopping: eg. Cabot Circus: as well as shops, there are offices, a cinema, a hotel, and 250 apartments, but cost £500 million. improved shopping facilities were needed to reduce crime, attract employment, improve environment, and compete with other cities, so the area was pedestrianised and CCTV was added, improved public transport, more attractive shopping environment, and promoting tourism for greater spending.- Bristol's Harbourside was also regenerated: former workshops and warehouses converted into bars and nightclubs, and cultural venues eg. art gallery, media and arts centre, and museum. a free 3 day annual Harbourside festival attracts 300 000.
• how has urban change created economic opportunities?

  - high-tech industries have developed in Bristol because:- government grant of £100 million to become Super-Connected city with broadband download speeds of at least 80 Mbps, close links with city council and university, educated and skilled workforce, advanced research at university, different industries working collaboratively in research and development, and a clean, non-polluted environment.- eg. Aardman Animations (for entertainment - films have won an Oscar), Defence Procurement Agency (employs over 10 000), and aerospace industry (14/15 main global aircraft companies found in Bristol).
• how has urban change created environmental opportunities?

  - in 2015: first 100 electric car charging points installed, every primary pupil planted 1 tree.- in 2015, Bristol became the first UK city to be awarded the status of European Green Capital, and by 2020, plan to: have transport improvements , improve energy efficiency (reduce energy use by 30% and CO2 emissions by 40%), renewable energy development (increase from 2% in 2012).- plan to increase number of jobs in low-carbon industries from 9000 to 17 000 by 2030.INTEGRATED TRANSPORT SYSTEM:- in 2012, was 2nd most congested city in UK, and aims to double number of cyclists by 2020. now has highest percentage of people walking and cycling than any other UK city (57%).- aims to encourage people to switch from cars to public transport (more sustainable and reduces traffic congestion: the Rapid Transit Network consists of 3 bus routes linking the main Temple Meads railway station with the city's Park and Ride sites, and electrification of line to London means greener transport, more reliable journeys, and improved connections across southern England and South Wales.URBAN GREENING:- more than 1/3 of Bristol is open space and over 90% of the population live within 350 m of parkland or waterways.- 8 nature reserves and 300 parks.- Queen Square was once a dual carriageway, but transformed into an open space with cycle routes.- new housing development at Portbury Wharf was allowed by the local council on condition that the neighbouring area was made into a nature reserve.- the areas of open water and meadow provide habitat.- 30% of the city is planned to be covered by trees.
• what are the environmental challenges in Bristol?

  DERELICTION:- areas that have become run-down are mainly in the inner city and where there is a concentration of redundant industrial buildings. when the port function moved downstream,many warehouses were abandoned and fell into decay.- eg. Stokes Croft: many empty houses have been taken over by squatters, and the area has suffered from riots and antisocial behaviour, so the British council has obtained lottery grants to improve the poor economic activity and environmental decay eg. graffiti art, music, nightclubs, however, gentrification means that some people may no longer afford to live there.GREENFIELD AND BROWNFIELD SITES:- between 2006 and 2013, only 6% were greenfield, and by 2026, over 30 000 new homes are planned on brownfield sites eg. Finzels Reach is brownfield.WASTE DISPOSAL:- as population increases, waste increases.- city produces over half a million tonnes of waste per year, and is among the worst cities in the country in terms of the amount of food waste it produces, so trying to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill sites by increasing waste recycling by 50%, eg. 'poo bus', which can travel 300 km on a tank of gas.
• what are the social and economic challenges in Bristol?

  URBAN DEPRIVATION:- due to lack of investment in the city, and has led to social and economic inequalities.INEQUALITIES:- in housing, education, health and employment.- leads to unhealthy lifestyles: drinking, smoking, and poor diets more common in deprived areas.- eg. Filwood and Stoke Bishop.
• Filwood facts

  - over 1300 crimes a year.- 62% of people feel unsafe at night. - Only 36% of students got top gcse grades.- Above average teenage conception rate.- Life expectancy = 78. Avg for Bristol = 80.- Death rates from cancer above average. - Poor access to shops selling healhy food.- Residents have the lowest participation in sport + creative activities etc .- 1/3 of people ages 16-24 are unemployed.
• Stoke Bishop facts


  - 81% of housing is owner occupied.- Highest level of car ownership in the city.- Fewer than 4% of children live in poverty.- Less than 300 crimes a year. - Only 3% unemployment. - Nearly 50% of population have a degree. - 94% of top gcse grades by students.- Life expectancy = 83.
• what is urban sprawl?

  - the uncontrolled expansion of urban areas into the surrounding countryside.
• what is the impact of urban sprawl on the rural-urban fringe?

  - large housing estates eg. in South Gloucestershire, built on greenfield land, providing pleasant environment for people to live in but means that open spaces are lost and ecosystems are damaged or destroyed, and can increase flood risk.- can lead to air and noise pollution, and traffic congestion, if brownfield sites are far away from facilities.- between 2006 and 2013, 94% new housing on brownfield sites, eg. regeneration of Bristol Harbourside, where several listed buildings have been preserved, however, increased flat prices. - remember, brownfield sites are more expensive to build on because they have to be cleared first.
• problems with the growth of commuter settlements?

  - new housing developments can affect the character of rural settlements and damage the environment, and demand increases prices, so locals may have to move out.- businesses may suffer as less money spent in the local area.- large number of commuters increases pollution, traffic congestion and parking problems.- eg. Wottom-under-Edge and Clevedon.
• why did the Temple Quarter need regeneration?

  -run down and gave a bad impression to visitors (often the first area seen by them).
• what are the 4 areas of Temple Quarter?

  - Temple Meads City Gateway: dominated by Temple Meads railway station.- Temple Quay: former industrial area.- Avon Riverside: green open spaces created by demolishing a former diesel depot.- Silverthorne Lane: remains of Bristol ironworks and the city's gasworks. access is difficult because of the railway arches that are part of the historic railway layout.
• what were the features of Temple Quarter regeneration?

  ENTERPRISE ZONE STATUS:- encourages economic growth and creates jobs.- incentives: business rate relief, low rents, and easier planning procedures, to encourage businesses to move there.IMPROVED ACCESS IN AND OUT OF BRISTOL:- electrification shortens rail time to London.- improvements to Temple Meads station to encourage more people to travel by train.- improved road layout with links to the rapid transit network and the Bristol-Bath cycle path.NEW BRIDGE:- across River Avon to Avon Riverside, giving access to the new Bristol Arena.- engine shed for high tech and creative businesses, Glass Wharf (new office development), Paintworks (new mixed use development), Temple Studios (new technical and digital enterprises), 'Arena Island' with bridge to new Bristol Arena.- create 4000 jobs by 2020, and 17 000 by 2037.
• what is Bristol Arena?

  - due to open 2018.- allows for theatre-style events with seating for 4000 people, and also major conventions, exhibitions, and sporting events for up to 12 000 people.- outdoor events eg. ice rink or outdoor theatre productions.
• what is Brunel's Engine Shed?


  - re-use of a listed historic building, and the new £1.7 million Innovation Centre is being developed, which is home to high-tech, creative, and low-carbon sector companies, which adds to Bristol's importance as a major UK high-tech centre.- inc. 18 micro-electronics, media, and digital production companies, company developing next generation of wifi, and the use of superfast broadband as part of the Bristol Gigabit project.
• Bristol has an average rainfall of 1056mm per year, with most falling between October to March.