No philistine he
Sir: It seems to me an extraordin- ary assertion that you make in Notebook (16 January) that the Sec- retary of State for the Environment has an evident need to demonstrate to the public that he is no outright philistine, and that becauseof this need Foulness will be selected as the site for the third London Airport.
This seems particularly gra- tuitous when one considers the considerable number of essentially 'conservationist' decisions already taken by Mr Peter Walker. And to attribute these to such motives seems to ignore the much more positive attitudes emerging from this very new Department. The decisions relating to vehicle fumes; the possibility that the polluter will have to pay for his actions; and in the instance of Leeds Airport, the refusal to permit the creation of yet another Heathrow—not on grounds of 'sound economics or cost-analysis' but on conservationist grounds, with a proper regard to the nature of the lives of those who live within the area surrounding Eden Airport, does present a much more positive approach to the environment.
On the recommendation of the Preservation Policy Group to pay exchequer grants towards the cost of conserving historic towns, which I imagine is the source of your comments on Mr Walker, the Government has deferred a deci- sion until the conclusion of four pilot schemes. It may be reasonable to criticise the decision, but it does provide precious little reason for chastising the Minister so vehemently. But then, no doubt, you will applaud as vehemently his decision to legislate as soon as possible on the proposals enabling local authorities to recover the cost of repairs on listed buildings. A. E. C. Vince 73 Gloucester Road, London .sw7
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