The Tide of Bricks and Mortar * Hertfordshire Regional Planning
Report, 1927. By W. B. Davidge. (5 Victoria Street, S.W. 1.) Mr. Davidge's new Report, like its predecessor (The West Kent Joint Regional Town Planning Report, reviewed in our article, " Where the Pavement Ends," in our issue of August 27th last), is a model of its kind. It is no exaggeration to say that similar Reports made throughout England would save untold lives and untold millions in the future. As was stated recently in the Report of the London Council of Social Service, " if we go on separating-residences from industry, generations will arise to call us damned." It may be added that if we allow our towns to spread haphazardly over the countryside, at the fancy of the speculator, we shall ruin not only the country, but the towns also, A county whose limits march with those of London, and that includes Welwyn and Letchworth and Rothamsted, is well adapted for the preparation of a forward-looking scheme such as that before us. For the plans which are here outlined to beautify one of the . most beautiful counties in England there must be the support of public opinion. Unfortunately; large sections . of our people hardly know what town-planning means, and it is •few people's business to tell them. - This Report, • however, speaks for. itself. No more signal advertise- ments of what forethought can do in virgin areas exist, than the garden cities of Letchworth and Welwyn. Both these undertakings have been carried out by private individuals, both were hampered through lack of sufficient funds, both have succeeded brilliantly. " The experi- mental stage is passed and a bolder and more deliberate policy is now demanded." One day.- Hertfordshire will consist of a group of such cities, separated by green belts and public lands, planned with vision and with precision to secure the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people.
Considerable tracts of the county should be preserved for ever in their agricultural condition for the use and pleasure of future generations. The suggested policy, we learn from the Report, is that of purchasing from the ' owners of scheduled areas the future building value of those areas. The compensation payable to existing 'owners in consideration of their forgoing a problematical building value would be small, but the capital sum they would receive under this scheme would amount, at some future date when the land might be ripe for development, to as much as they would have received from the build- ing value of the land if they had held - it as a speculation. In other words, the money will be put to useful work instead of being tied up' in land awaiting development. The county would benefit for ever by the existence of large rural sanctuaries freed from, the risk of falling into. the hands of the speculative builder, and the present owners of the land will also be the richer, both materially and in the feeling that they have helped to preserve the amenities of their county. We cordially endorse the Report when it expresses the opinion that " the lime to carry out such a plan of far-reaching benefit to the community, and to landowners as a whole, is to-day. Every year that passes will make such a scherne more difficult until it will finally become impossible." With regard to amenities, the Regional Report does not- contemplate the provision of public playgrounds, which must be decided upon in each individual town- - planning scheme. " It is, however, suggested that on an average one allotment of ten square rods should be allowed for • every four houses at maximum density." The first essential of playgrounds is that they should be within easy reach of the home. There is no need for the areas set- apart for children to be large. They may well be " pieces of ground of an acre or so in extent," to which the children could repair instead of playing in the streets as they now so pathetically do. For adults, playing fields are becoming a very pressing need if our country is not to be swamped under a tide of bricks and mortar. The land not already built upon - may be scheduled as a private open space under the schemp above described. At least one acre of playing-field should be available for every 200 persons.
As to the greater open spaces, there is a magnificent stretch of down, heath, and -woodland surrounding Ashridge Park,. but further areas should be reserved in the near future. We note in this connexion that the Moor Park Estate ha's given an excellent example by setting aside fifty acres as a permanent open space. Green belts are contemplated along the valleys of the Colne and Lea, so as to make a continuous track of open country surrounding London. There is also a project for linking up the various golf courses from Moor Park to Hadley Woods, thereby providing a rural area on the northern outskirts of London. The -control of advertise- Menti and petrol stations is not 'neglected the ItepOrt,
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and it is pointed out that County Councils and Local Authorities have power by means of by-laws to deal with offending posters and petrol -pumps.
- In conclusion, we would again most strongly commend the Report to the attention of our readers. The text; illustrations, and maps are all excellent, and the whole book, informed as it is with a spirit of vision which could give back to England the beauty that is hers and that we have defaced, is an example which we trust Other districts will make hasie to emulate.
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