How and why does environmental quality change around Croydon?

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How and why does environmental quality vary around Croydon’s Central Business District?

GCSE Geography Coursework 2008

Alex Aldridge – 8004

Word Count: 3,686


TABLE OF CONTENTS

CONTENTS PAGE.........................................Page 1

CHAPTER 1: Introduction and Aims.............Page 2

CHAPTER 2: Methods..................................Page 4

CHAPTER 3: Analysis of Hypothesis 1..........Page 6

CHAPTER 4: Analysis of Hypothesis 2..........Page 8

CHAPTER 5: Analysis of Hypothesis 3..........Page 10

CHAPTER 6: Conclusion and Evaluation.......Page 11

BIBLIOGRAPHY...........................................Page 13

DATA APENDIX...........................................Page 14

CHAPTER 1: Introduction and aims

The purpose of my study was to discover how and why environmental quality varies around the Croydon Central Business District (CBD) and then to use the data and information collected to produce my Geography GCSE coursework.

The environmental quality of Croydon is an important issue worthy of study because of its close proximity to Whitgift, which is where I will continue to spend a lot of my time before eventually moving onto University.  This is significant from a personal point of view especially, because as a student I want to be able to learn in the best possible environment and the development of Croydon will have a direct impact on that.

Figure 1 to the right of this page shows that Croydon Council has been intent on improving the environment of the borough since 1999. This screenshot, taken from the council’s website, emphasises that environmental quality is an important issue not only with the government, but with the people and the businesses of Croydon.

The data I have collected during my study could also be passed on to the local council to aid them in their improvements of the CBD and the surrounding areas.

The three hypotheses I intend to study are:

Graffiti levels decrease with distance away from the CBD – I expect to find that because of higher maintenance levels in the CBD, graffiti levels will increase, rather than decrease, with distance from the CBD.

Pedestrian flow is highest where environmental quality is highest – I expect to find that large numbers of pedestrians will gather where environmental is highest due to the fact that the higher-order shops, restaurants and general conveniences are located there.

Number of chewing gum marks on pavement will increase with distance from the CBD – I expect to find that, as with my first hypothesis, increased levels of maintenance in the CBD will mean that the number of chewing gum marks on the pavement will indeed increase with distance from the CBD. Areas on the periphery of Croydon are likely to be neglected in terms of street cleaning and will therefore accumulate more chewing gum marks on their pavements. This is my own, original hypothesis.

Diary of Events – Data Collection Day June 2008

Annotated Map of Croydon (attached)

The following locations of importance have been identified on Map 2 using large numbered circles:

1.  WHITGIFT CENTRE – The Whitgift Centre is widely considered to be the heart of Croydon. It houses a vast number and variety of shops as well as five office blocks. Surrounding it is North End, the main pedestrian area of the town centre. This building and its immediate surroundings is known as the CBD.

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2.  NORTH END – North End is Croydon’s largest pedestrian area – a hotspot for high order shops, goods and services. It is considered to be the town’s best shopping area.

3.  EAST CROYON STATION – East Croydon Rail Station is the largest train station in the town centre. It provides services to some 80 other stations, including London Bridge and London Victoria, and is the third busiest station in London outside Travelcard Zone 1.

4.  WEST CROYON STATION West Croydon Rail Station is the second busiest train station in the town centre, and is a key transport interchange for National ...

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