Leaving Certificate

Geography
Higher Level
Tracy Gannon
Regional Geography:
Regions of Industrial Decline

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Ref: 6/geo/h/RegionalGeography:RegionsofIndustrialDecline
A region is an area on earth’s surface with a characteristic(s) that sets it apart from other
areas, making it distinctive or unique in some way.

A region can be identified based on a range of characteristics including physical landscape,

climate, language, religion, government and/or economy.

Types of Regions

Physical Regions Climatic Cool Temperate Oceanic/

Maritime

Geomorphic/ Physical The Burren, Co. Clare

Administrative Regions Local Authorities Ireland e.g. Dublin city council

EU Administrative Regions France e.g. departements

Cultural Regions Language The Gaeltacht, Ireland

Belgium

Religion Northern Ireland

The Islamic World

Socio-economic Regions Core Regions The Dublin Region

Paris Basin

Peripheral Regions The Western Region

The Mezzogiorno

Regions of Industrial Decline Sambre-Meuse Valley

Nodal/ Urban/City Dublin/ Paris/ Calcutta

Regions

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Regions of Industrial Decline
In many areas of the world, industrial regions which were once major economic centres
have declined in significance and presently face severe problems.
Regions of industrial decline are characterised by high unemployment, derelict buildings,
urban decay and out-migration.

Causes of industrial decline

There are two main reasons for industrial decline in a region.
1. Depletion of natural resources
2. Competition from other regions with cheaper business costs.

1. Depletion of resources
In Belgium, the industrial region of the Sambre-Meuse Valley and in Northern Spain the
Basque region, both declined in significance as local coal and iron ore deposits were
depleted.
Up until the mid-20th century, these centres were important industrial areas. When the
resources were exhausted, industries closed and these regions became zones of high
unemployment, social deprivation and derelict sites.
2. Competition
Ireland never experienced an industrial revolution and therefore, lacked the large-scale
industrialisation found in mainland Europe, however, several Irish towns and cities
developed important industrial functions. In 1973, Ireland joined the European
Economic Community (now called the European Union), some Irish manufacturing
companies closed due to the competition from cheaper European manufacturers. High
unemployment rates and emigration followed. Cork city is a good example of an Irish
city that experienced an industrial decline.

©The Dublin Academy of Education 3 Tracy Gannon

Regions of Industrial Decline
2015

4B. Industrial Decline

Examine the causes and impacts of industrial decline with reference to any region(s) that
you have studied. [30m]

Sample Question

Core region may fall into economic decline. Explain why this decline may occur with
reference to a region you studied. [30m]

Marking Scheme 2015

©The Dublin Academy of Education 4 Tracy Gannon

Depletion of Resources: Sambre Meuse Valley
From the 1880’s onward, the Sambre-Meuse valley in Wallonia, southern Belgium was the
industrial core region of the country. Industry was based on coal mining and the traditional
heavy industries of iron and steel, chemicals and engineering.

The Sambre-Meuse coalfields are extensions of the Nord coalfields of Northern France.
During the 19th century, coal exercised a considerable pull effect on industry in the region.
Consequently, this coal mining region developed into centre of heavy industry result in
large scale inward migration. At its peak, over 120,000 people were employed in more than
120 mines in the region.

As coal is a finite natural resource, many coal seams in the region became exhausted due to
overuse and coal production declined steadily from the 1960’s onward. As a result,
industries using coal faced increased costs for imported coal. Furthermore, the use of oil
and gas and the improvements in transport links both helped to release the grip that these
areas exerted on industrial location. Many industries relocated to waterside locations.

Coalmining during the 19th century was based in Wallonia in such towns as Liege, Namur
and Charleroi.

The coalfield region experienced industrial decline. This was due to numberous factors:
• Competition from cheaper imports of coal from Poland and America.
• There were alternative sources of energy such as oil and gas.
• The number of jobs was reduced due to new technologies.

Deindustrialisation occurred in the region meaning a large-scale decline occurred in the

industrial base. The main problems of industrial decline included:

1. visual scars on the landscape.

Abandoned collieries, overgrown slag heaps, derelict factories and poor infrastructure were
the tell-tale signs of this once industrial area. Such an environment was not attractive for
new investment. These closures had negative spin-off effects on associated industries such
as chemical and engineering.
2. High unemployment rates

The region was devastated by high unemployment rates (over 20%) especially among the
male population. Between 1960 and 1973, 50,000 jobs were lost in the region.
3. Migration

©The Dublin Academy of Education 5 Tracy Gannon

The loss of employment and low living standards caused a decline in the population as
people migrated to growth centres such as Antwerp in the region of Flanders. As a result,
Flanders became the new growth region in Belgium.

Government and EU support has aided the development of this region. Most of the coalfield
regions of Wallonia were designated as Objective 2 regions by the European Union(EU). The
Sambre-Meuse region alone received €1.04 billion in funding from the EU. Changes in the
area have attempted to make the area more attractive for investment. These changes
included:
• The landscape has been cleaned up to improve the image of the area and attract
private investment.
• Worker retraining schemes were developed.
• Improved infrastructure, especially motorways that link to other EU countries.
Upgrading the airport at Charleroi to improve access.
The results have been positive but still, the Sambre-Meuse area remains an Objective2
region within Europe.

Figure 1: Belgium on European map

©The Dublin Academy of Education 6 Tracy Gannon

Competition: Cork City

Ireland never experienced an industrial revolution and therefore, lacked the large-scale
industrialisation found in Europe, although several Irish counties, towns and important
industrial functions, e.g. Drogheda and Cork city.
In 1973, Ireland joined the European Economic Community (now called the EU), this meant
some Irish manufacturing companies closed because of the availability of lower-priced
products from European manufacturers.
Up to the 1980s, Cork’s industries provided the entire Greater Cork region with good
employment. However, when the recession hit in the early 1980s, decisions were made to
close down most of these industries in Cork.
By 1985, the shipyards, ford and Dunlop plants had been closed with a huge loss of 3,000
jobs. Cork had experienced deindustrialization and became a region of industrial decline and
a black spot for national unemployment
At this time Cork was Ireland’s dominant centre for large-scale, port-related industries.
These industries included steelworks, shipyard, oil refinery and ford car assembly plant.

However, in the 1990s, Cork’s economy was revived as many new industries moved into the
city. These are mainly chemical and pharmaceutical companies.

Today, Cork city is a thriving urban area that has become a centre of culture and education.

Figure 2: Cork on map or Ireland

©The Dublin Academy of Education 7 Tracy Gannon