LONDON’S “GREEN BELT”

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12529, 15 April 1935, Page 2

LONDON’S “GREEN BELT”

A £25,000,000 SCHEME. The first real steps arc being taken on an estimated £25,000,000 scheme to acquire a “green belt” of open space around Greater London. The London and Home Counties Regional Planning Committee, composed of representatives of local authorities, including the London County Council and Kent, Essex, Surrey, and Middlesex councils have been working on a plan for some time which has now reached a stage in which progress can be made. The committee lias visualised an Epping Forest, the wooded hills of a groat irregular green belt linking Chislehurst, the open space beyond Ccckfosters and so right around London. Land to the extent of 250 acres at Shooters Hill i;s already practically acquired, and. financial negotiations are proceeding in regard to other localities. The holt will probably include Epsom Downs, Richmond Park, Claygate. and Wimbledon Common. In some places it will he wider than in others, hut the idea, of the holt being a continuous one will be maintained. An expenditure of approximately .£1,000,000 will he required for the immediate utops planned in this longsighted scheme, which is an effort to safeguard London from the effects of the horizontal building that is going on in nil directions.