25 MAY 1934, Page 19

Ribbon Bungalows

In a lovely county, 'otherwise Completely unspoilt by car, shack, or advertisement, I saw, last week, one example of the ribbon type- of bringalitis that had every disadvantage, and, when you looked into minor details, every threat for the future. The little ugly houses were being built each on a tenth of an acre. Since the two ribbons were remote and growing more remote from the centre' it was judged too expensive to supply the developing area with public sewer and water, so on each tenth of an acre is built a well and a cesspool necessarily adjacent. Since the cesspools- are small they are made with a baSe as porous as the soil will allow, that as much as possible of their contents may seep away. What effect this may have on adjacent supplies of water, say, ten years hence, it is better not to inquire. In the protest against the buildings that make such ribbons not enough is said of the future effects. The houses are built for the moment and so will prove a curse to the next generation.' The Regional Plan, strictly enforced and made with the long view, is the only salvation.

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