FACTS AS FOUNDATIONS
Sta,—The arguments put forward in my letter of October 24th were, I hoped, obviously intended, not as a sweeping generalisation applying to all estates developed on the outskirts of towns or to all their inhabitants, but to indicate that evidence exists against, as well as for, a continuance of the policy of open development as laid down by Housing and Town Planning Law during the past 20 years. , Miss Ryle's letter seems rather to emphasise the need for facts. Take families from the shameful housing conditions of the north-east coast distressed area, give them new houses with social amenities under first-class management, fairly close to the centre of the town and on the edge of a brand-new trading estate,—the families thrive and are happy. Of course! But Dr. McGonigle's findings on the new housing estates at Stockton-on-Tees, numerous independent enquiries into the great developments outside London, Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and so on, give different, less pleasant, but equally true facts. The recent Bournville survey .of Birmingham showed that less than 45 per cent. of the gardens on the new peripheral estates were well kept. Does that prove anything?
Then take flat-development Kensal House, an estate of work- men's flats in London, shows almost identical statistics regarding. change in tenancies, improvement in health and increased human happiness with the Gateshead cottage estate. Yet Mr. Osborn in his letter of October 3rd said they were " certainly not defensible as a norm for family life." On what facts were his statement based? No. When evidence is so inconclusive, often so directly contradictory, as to the form which future development should take ; when needs, problems and solution so obviously differ in Scotland and England, in one town and another, in one type of human being and another, surely Mr. Williams-Ellis's request for facts is one of the most non- controversial democratic and intelligent suggestions which has been made in this welter of conversations on Reconstruction.—Yours truly, ELIZABETH DENBY.
zz Primes Street, Hanover Square, London, W. r.
Previous page
