THE AMENITY FRONT
Snt,—As a member of the Committee of one of the leading Amenity Societies I have some knowledge of the problems and difficulties with which these Societies are faced in dealing with the continuous menace to amenities. There can, I think, be no doubt that until far stronger powers are given to the Ministry of Town and Country Planning the voluntary Societies will have to continue to fight. There can be no demobilisation in this sphere. I am convinced that the Amenity Societies, giving to this term a wide meaning, suffer from one great weakness. They lack organised unity and co-ordination of effort on a national scale. It is true that on some major issues there has been consultation between two or three of the principal Societies and some joint action which has not been unfruitful. But such occasional and haphazard action falls far short of what is required. The real need is, I suggest, the formation of a national federation of such Societies to unite and concentrate their influence and power, especially where it is most needed, viz.: in relation to legislation by the State. Even a Socialist Government is more likely to be impressed by a powerful rather than a weak amenity front if requested to socialise, e.g., access to our mountains and moors. Let the Societies bestir themselves and consider the question of federal unity.—
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