Should Greg and Anne Live in High Halden Or Ashford
Should Greg and Anne live in High Halden or Ashford?
This mystery exercise by Alan Jeanes, AST, Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys, Canterbury is based on information in a Kent Messenger supplement called ‘Kent Future’ published in September 2005.
Kent is entering an intense period of regeneration and development with long-term effects for years to come. Although not joined to the Thames Gateway, Ashford is one of South-east England’s key development areas.
The ambitious plans for the county offer huge potential for economic growth and job creation but for residents and workers it is important to get it right; and at what expense to the beautiful Kent countryside?
Tasks
Greg and Anne are recently married and in their mid-twenties with no children. At present they rent accommodation in Ashford.
Sort the cards in order to find a set of statements that relate directly to the question ‘Should Greg and Anne live in High Halden or Ashford?’
Further sorting could take place such as into factors mainly social, economic, environmental or political.
Mind map the linkages between the sorted statements.
Write an answer to the question using selected key statements.
See ‘Thinking through primary teaching’ by Steve Higgins, Chris Kington Publishing (Resource 3, page 56) for a writing frame called ‘For and against? Looking at both sides of the argument’.
Extension – informed and active participation
Greg and Anne will make their own personal decision about where they live. Think about the roles that they might have for influencing the changes that will affect them in the future.
What are the geographical skills that would help Greg and Anne play an active part in their community?
Consider the likely futures for their home, work and services.
How does this show the inter-dependence of the two communities?
Living Geography – local solutions
This mystery exercise is more meaningful where it reflects the local circumstances of the learners. It can be easily adapted by reference to local development frameworks and current issues reported in local newspapers.
1. High Halden is a suburbanised village to the south-west of Ashford. / 2. Local authorities make plans to manage change in their area.3. The population of High Halden is rising rapidly. / 4. High Halden has a lower crime rate than Ashford.
5. The doctor in High Halden has closed the list to new patients. / 6. New homes are planned for High Halden: 112 executive and affordable units.
7. High Halden is on the A28 – the main road between Ashford and Tenterden. / 8. The cost of housing in High Halden has gone up quite sharply recently.
9. In the 1990s developers planned for new towns and villages within Green Belts. / 10. Greg is an ICT consultant for internet-based companies. He can tele-work.
11. Greg and Anne can only afford housing in Ashford that is in need of repair. / 12. There is a good deal of brownfield land in the Ashford urban area.
13. Areas of the countryside that need protecting are called an SSSI. / 14. In England 6.5 million homes are needed by 2016.
15. 60% of new housing could be built on brownfield sites. / 16. Most of Greg’s friends live in Ashford.
17. Anne works for a travel company at Ashford International Station. / 18. Clearing brownfield sites can be expensive.
19. Anne was recently mugged while walking home from work. / 20. Ashford is planning large-scale regeneration schemes over the next 20 years.
21. It easy to get to Ashford urban centre from High Halden. / 22. Greg owns a car.
23. Parking is expensive in Ashford town centre. / 24. High Halden is becoming increasingly congested.
25. High Halden is close to The Weald and the Garden of England countryside. / 26. Anne spends her leisure-time shopping for clothes.
27. Some older town centre shops have closed through lack of trade. / 28. Commuters use Ashford urban area during the day.
29. A residents’ association opposes new building in High Halden / 30. 72% of households have access to car.
31. There is little for teenagers to do in High Halden. / 32. Greg is a keen football player.
33. Anne’s parents live in Maidstone. / 34. The Thames Gateway is expecting 120,000 new homes and 120,000-180,000 new jobs by 2016.
35. The South-East Development Agency (SEEDA) is managing projects worth £128 million in Kent. / 36. High Halden does not have a train station.
36. High Halden’s Primary School is full. / 37. Ashford’s hospital can not cope with the increased population.
38. Ashford’s population has risen 15% in five years. / 39. Plans for a new housing development in High Halden have been refused.
40. High Halden has a post office and shop; a pub and a community hall. / 41. By 2013 there will be 31,000 new dwellings and 28,000 new jobs in Ashford.
43. Roads, hospitals and schools will be built ahead of house building. / 44. Hothfield Common is an SSSI.
45. High speed trains will run from Ashford to Ebbsfleet and London from 2009. / 46. 6,500 new dwellings in five expanded villages are expected in twenty years.
47. Anne likes to visit the gym at the sports centre in Ashford twice a week. / 48. NIMBY: not in my backyard.
BANANA: build absolutely nothing anywhere near anything.