Drawing_on_What_You_Have_Learned_About_City_Road,_Outline_Some_of_the_Inequalities_on_a_Street_That_You_Know.

Put name and PI number at the top. Drawing on what you have learned about City Road, Outline some of the inequalities on a street that you know. Linthorpe Road is a street in Middlesbrough providing an array of shops and services aimed at a varying target market. Linthorpe Road began as ‘Linthorpe Lane’ where it was used as a connecting route between the up and coming Linthorpe and the centre of Middlesbrough. (‘The birth of Middlesbrough’, Par 17) By the 1900’s, Linthorpe Road had become the main shopping street in Middlesbrough. The road is separated into two halves by a prominent junction. The upper end, based closest to the town centre can be regarded as the more upmarket, housing luxury department stores such as ‘Psyche’ and ‘Triads’ along with expensive hair salons and trendy bars such as ‘Sassari’s’. The lower end, based closest to Linthorpe, houses individual shops such as ‘John’s Pet Shop’ and ‘African Individual’ there are many fast food restaurants and cultural food shops as well as a mix of charity shops and outreach centres. Good description Like City Road, an inequality demonstrated by Linthorpe Road is the competition for space between cars and pedestrians (‘The Street’, 2009). Over recent years, as the street has thrived, traffic calming procedures have been put in place with more traffic lights, islands, zebra crossings and speed limits demonstrating order throughout the street. Parking has been limited and double yellow lines are present for the majority of the street. Pedestrians appear to have priority with regards to crossing and access, however the street retains its historical use as the main connecting route between Middlesbrough and Linthorpe. The main inequality demonstrated on Linthorpe Road is down to wealth. There is a very clear divide through the street and this has left the upper part almost completely inaccessible for those with a limited ability to consume effectively due to their income.( During the day, the shops which form the upper part of street are targeted to those with a substantial wealth, Psyche and Triads stock upmarket designer brands and along with this offer the services of a personal shopper to assist and up sell to the consumer. Expensive restaurants and stylish wine bars crop up between the shops and salons providing a one stop environment for its consumers. Shopping at such shops promotes an individuals status and ensures they are regarded highly within society, those of a lower class simply use the upper part of Linthorpe road as a connection route and are simply observers of the more lavish lifestyle enjoyed by those able to consume in this area. By night the upper part of the street is used by the wealthier as somewhere to socialise or eat out. By the prices remaining high, the establishments remain exclusive to what could be regarded as the more desirable clientele and out of reach to the poorer. The lower part of Linthorpe road houses much more individual shops, small craft shops and family businesses crop up with a wealth of multi- cultural shops and food markets providing services for those of different nationalities. There are charity shops, a £1 shop and an outreach centre aimed at helping homeless people. In place of lavish restaurants are small café’s, affording the less wealthy somewhere to lunch or meet with friends. There is a working man’s club and a pool bar. This part of the street is perceived as having a high crime rate probably due to the services offered for the homeless or drug and alcohol dependant. Unless used as a connection route, the lower part of Linthorpe is rarely used by the wealthy, similar to the upper part of the street being rarely used by the poorer. ( Linthorpe road, like City road is also popular with students from the local university (‘The Street’, 2009’). During term time the street is overcrowded and proves a struggle for those with pushchairs or wheelchairs. ( They tend to be ignored and stopped by the passing crowds cutting in front of them or accessing shops. Overall, the inequalities demonstrated on Linthorpe Road bears similarities to that of City Road, particularly in the competition for space between road users and pedestrians, the connected lives demonstrated in the multi cultural shops and restaurants and the ordered lives demonstrated in the controlling of traffic. Linthorpe Road is also in other ways different to City Road. The material lives are clearly defined on Linthorpe Road with a very prominent divide between those able to effectively consume primarily down to their wealth, and those who due to their finances would be excluded from this environment. Linthorpe Road also has a dedicated use as a resort for shopping as well as a through route to other area’s of the town. ‘The Birth of Middlesbrough’ http://www.englandsnortheast.co.uk/Middlesbrough.html - Paragraph 17. ‘The Street’ (2009) Making Social Lives [DVD], Milton Keynes, The Open University. Word Count – 763 Self Reflection: Throughout the assignment I found it interesting to examine the differences between the 2 streets. I noticed more about Linthorpe Road than I have previously by comparing it to another street and looking for the differences and similarities. The part I found difficult was referencing and placing the references.