Pontefract Local Place

• Importance

  Transport: 3 train stations, M62, A1

  Culture: longest flat race course in Europe, liquorice

  Shopping: Junction 32

  Education: New College Pontefract
• Physical geography (Endogenous)

  Sandstone: liquorice roots grow well in sandy soils.

  Siltstone: from the River Aire, fertile for agriculture.

  Coal reserves: mining industry.
• Economy (Endogenous)

  Historically mainly primary and secondary, now mostly tertiary (retail).
• Flows of resources (Exogenous)

  Liquorice is now farmed in the middle east, coal no longer mined here.
• Flows of people (Exogenous)

  Pontefract has good transport links and cheap housing so is used as a commuter settlement. However, many people move out to get higher paying jobs.
• Flows of ideas (Exogenous)

  Some evidence of multiculturalism from Polish shops etc. but 95% is White British.
• Flows of money/investment (Exogenous)

  TNC Haribo bought Dunhills who produced liquorice, they also invested in the Pontefract and Castleford area building factories there. In 2021 Haribo invested £22 million.
• Quantitative Data

  23% have no qualifications vs 18% nat average

  95% White British

  44% in very good health vs 49% nat avergae

  4.5% unemployed
• Qualitative Data

  Poem the Liquorice Fields at Pontefract "sweetest smells"

  "delicious aroma of sweets" - Trip Advisor

  When the Lights go out, most violent poltergeist in Europe (negative)