RIBBON DEVELOPMENT

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 64, 8 December 1937, Page 9

RIBBON DEVELOPMENT

Erection of Factories on London Arterial Roads visitor's criticism The practice of erecting factories and houses along the frontages of the main arterial roads from London without first ensuring the subdivision and development of the huge blocks of land adjacent to these road frontages was one that did not favourably impress Mr W. Brinsley, Begistrar of the Hastings Soldiers1 Memorial Hospital, during his recent tour of England. "The drift of industry to the main arterial roads leading to London, in my opinion, is very bad from every point of view except, perhaps, that of convenience of centralisatioa, 1 ' he said. "Industrially, strategically, and from the viewpoint of the public welfare and general development, I feel that it is a big mistake to concontrate industries all in the one place or locality. Along many of the main roads factories have been, and are being built, and, while I •appreciato that they are attraitivelooking modern buildings, with more windows than walls to enable workers to enjoy the maximum of sunlight, I feel that it is a great mistake. 'Such a practice only leads to leaving undeveloped large tracts of land and increases the traffic dangers, 1 1 he added. "In addition it tends to create a drift of industry from the north and other parts of England to near London, and I am sure that there is ho real desire to greatly increase the population of London and its environs at the expense of the other parts of the country. "The same tendency to build along the road frontages has been carried out to such an extent in the matter of erecting houses that the authorities have now taken action to prevent further trouble,11 he said.; "This tendency is known as 'ribbon development1 and it has resulted in long chains of houses, quite modern and attractive no doubt along the road frontages., without due thought for the development of the nearby land and countryside. A speeial Eural Development Act had to be passed .to provide the nocessary eheek to this type of development, and to give.. the local ahthorities the power . to control future' development. I would say that the Act was not passed before it was teally necessary. "This ribbon development has done a great deal of damage already, but legiislation should enable control to be exercised over it in the future, if conscientiously administered. " The effect of this ribbon development was noted when motoring, he added. Many of the so-called country lanes, which were really excellent roads with tar-sealed surfaces, but not so wide as to allow for more than two-way traffic, were not so dangerou.s as the main arterial roads. With the crowding of the factories and residential development schemes alongside the main roads there was inereasing traffic problems.