Technological change
As roads improve and the internet becomes faster and more reliable, the impacts on rural areas are growing. These technological improvements are increasing the sphere of influence that large urban areas have on both smaller urban areas and rural areas.
Urban sphere of influence
When rural areas are located near urban areas, then inevitably the urban area becomes vitally important to those in the rural area. Cities such as Liverpool or Chester, despite being in England, are vital places for rural villages and towns in the north-east of Wales. Towns such as Llangollen rely on jobs, entertainment and retailing activities which Liverpool and Chester offer. In addition, both cities have large universities and hospitals which are vital to the health and educational opportunities of residents in Llangollen.
Transport infrastructure such as roads, rail and bus services allow people to move freely and frequently between the rural and urban areas. Liverpool also has a major airport which is important.
In addition, many people in Llangollen have friends, family and business relations in the city of Liverpool and Chester, and these relationships are strengthened or maintained by social media and the power of internet communication.
The impacts of urban spheres of influence on the services offered in rural villages are often negative. Financial services such as post offices and banks often take the decision to merge with other businesses or even close as more people bank online. Bus and train timetables are affected as services become less frequent or are even cancelled because fewer people live there and therefore fewer services are offered.
As a result, a complex web links Llangollen, a rural community, to Liverpool and Chester which are urban communities. This web includes a complex range of flows such as transport, people, ideas, business and money. Geographers say that cities have a large sphere of influence.
The strength of the sphere of influence
Often the towns and villages closest to a large urban area have the strongest sphere of influence. The influence becomes weaker the further away from the urban area a place is located.