Defris Partners: ÖSTSAM – Regional Development ... - WebNews

many as 11 villages observed an increase in the population of 40% - the maximum
increase was doubling of the population within the 6-year period.
If we express the values in numbers, we can observe than 21 villages experienced an
increase in the population of more than 200 persons, 7 of which of more than 500,
with the maximum figure standing at more than 900 persons.
We can observe a clearly-cut hierarchy in the settlement system of BTMA in the field
of service provision:
- Bydgoszcz and Toruń – the serve the functions of their region’s seats with
numerous supraregional functions,
- The seats of communes are meant to be servicing the residents of communes –
the town commune seats display better facilities as far as the number and
character of the services provided are concerned; the rural commune seats are
in a less favourable situation in this respect. These centres are bound to have
developed a wide array of market services (especially trade and repairs),
primary and lower-secondary education (also upper-secondary one in towns),
healthcare, agriculture-directed services, basic financial services,
administration with related institutions and public utility services,
- Centres of supplementary character to rural commune seats (27 such villages
have been identified) – large villages with highly-developed services sector –
they have an important role especially in large communes, where the distance
to the commune seat is significant,
- Other places – the remaining 320 villages and hamlets have been included into
this category. Most of them do not possess any services, or they offer services
catering only for the needs of local residents (they have no impact on the
neighbouring villages).
A specific character of particular public services must be mentioned. Primary schools
are among the most common services and they are present in as many as 69 villages
and towns; lower-secondary schools are significantly less numerous – they are to be
found in 35 villages and towns. Community centres also make a frequent category
(present in 96 villages), as well as libraries (in 47). Healthcare units (GP’s) along with
their affiliates are present in 38 villages and towns (in more than 2 places in a
commune on average).
Despite negative changes in recent years (closing down some units) post offices are
still relatively accessible. There are 37 post offices including agent’s units and
affiliates.
Less frequent services, present only in larger villages and towns, include:
- upper-secondary education (present in only 6 places including 3 towns and 3
villages),
- nursery schools (17 villages and towns),
- culture centres (14 towns and villages),
- police stations (15 towns and villages),
- banks (20 towns and villages).
Welfare centres offer services of a specialised character (9 towns and villages). The
distribution of fire brigade stations (not related to the hierarchy of the settlement
system) is of a completely different character. There are as many as 72 fire stations
(almost exclusively they are volunteer brigades).
There are significant discrepancies in the level of execution of so called “own tasks” by
commune authorities, which especially evident in the number of culture units
supported by them. Moreover, one should notice that the residents of the suburban
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