Accessible Rural

Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire

1. Originally a market town in Warwickshire located at a cross-point of the River Avon.

2. It is now a town of some 23,000 inhabitants.

3. One of the key industries is tourism due to the connection with William Shakespeare and the RSC (Royal Shakespeare Company) Theatres.

4. Agricultural industries are in decline, highlighted by the closure of the town's cattle market in the late 1990s.

5. The M40 (motorway) and direct train link to Birmingham have improved the accessibility of the town, especially for tourists on day visits.

6. Due to its improved accessibility and proximity to the Cotswolds, the town has grown in population size over the last 10 years with an increase in commuters rather than rural, agricultural workers.

7. This is a rural settlement currently witnessing population growth and urban sprawl.

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