Tma_01_-_Dd131

TMA 01 – With reference to what you have learnt about City Road, outline some of the differences across time and space on a street you know. TMA 01 requires me to outline differences across time and space on a street that I know and relate them to those highlighted in City Road. I have chosen Queens Road a 0.8 mile road which has a combination of housing, a pub, community centre, residential care and a handful of different shops and takeaways. I am going to explore the different historical changes, identities and physical infrastructure within the street. Queens Road is in Withywood, Bristol and was once just a rural area although because of an increasing population it became more built up in the 1950’s. This change is similar to that of City Road (making social lives DVD, 2009, scene 1), it was also just a rural country lane, although just like Queens Road with an increase of population and a demand of transport, City Road has adapted to a popular commuting, living and working environment. Shops within Queens Road have often changed proprietors but overall sold similar produce, this is a contrast to City Road where we have learnt that once shops selling local produce, then became dominated by car sales in the 1960’s, and more recently it is mostly restaurants and takeaways. (making social lives DVD, 2009, scene 1). Another difference that has escalated over time on Queens Road is that many of the buildings/spaces have been converted into housing this included a pub, clinic, a shop, car repairs and waste land. It seems like when these were sold they were of more value as housing; this correlates with City Road but as takeaways and restaurants. (Georgina Blakely, making social lives DVD, 2009, scene 3), explains that in social society, “Some people gain and some people lose”), (Colin Buttwell making social lives DVD, 2009, scene 3), “I’ve been knocked a bit” backs this comment when talking about the challenges running a small news agent with bigger companies opening nearby. In Queens Road although those businesses have lost their premises, the expanding population have adequate housing and this forms a stronger, larger community. Although the sale and change of premises can cause conflict, a second public house recently closed and the land will be new housing, this has upset some local residents as they feel that they are losing part of their community. This is very similar to the conflict caused because the disused petrol garage and the locals that would like to see the eyesore space used (material lives DVD, 2009, scene 3). The second point I have looked at is the different identities on Queens Road, once consisting of family run businesses, the shops are now much more multicultural and so are the produce that they sell. There is a Chinese takeaway ‘A Taste Of China’ just like the Mezza-Luna and its links to Arabic (connected lives DVD, 2009, scene 5) this takeaway has a strong Chinese identity which they share through the food served and the decoration of the premises. Customers using these places feel they share part of this identity; an example of this is the student that attends the farmers market and states, “This is a way of life I want to support” (making social lives DVD, 2009, scene 7) and (Jovan Byford, Open University) “purchasing of these foods says something about her and its part of her identity”, backs this idea. The streets themselves have identities, Queens Road known solely for convenience shopping and takeaways, and “City Road has an identity as a certain night out” (Dr Stephanie Taylor, connected lives, 2009, scene 1). These identities are very different and it seems because of the nature of the businesses and activities that take place in each street. The final difference that I have concentrated on is the physical infrastructure on the streets and how they are used at different times. Queens Road has lots of different street furniture, signs, and road markings that all contribute to the flow of the street and the safety of those using it. All of these just like in City Road make up a “complex communication system” (Elizabeth Sliver, material lives DVD, 2009, scene 1). One of the buildings on Queens Road ‘The Withywood Centre’ has many uses and it is often different times of day that the most drastic ones take place. It has a midwife clinic, elderly groups and a toddler group, although evenings and weekends it hosts many parties and private functions, just as the Makitosh Centre, which during the week is a sports centre in contrast to Saturday mornings when it holds a farmers market. In conclusion I feel that Queens Road has many differences in the space and over time, some of these are exactly like City Road and some are the complete opposite. References The Open University, (2009) DD131 Introducing Social Sciences, Making Social Lives, The Open University, DVD00611.