WELCOMBE ESTATE
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—Sir William Beach Thomas has .been so closely asso- ciated with the work of the C.P.R.E. since the date of its formation nearly three years ago, and has been such a staunch supporter, that ,I am indeed .grieved that my letter on the subject of the Welcombe Estate should have caused any
misapprehension in his mind or in the mind of anyone. .
He certainly does appear to have misunderstood the letter in question, which was written in reply to a request from tit_ lo2al press to the C.P.R.E. to offer some practical solution. The only information at our disposal at the time was Sir William's article, in which he pointed out that the estate had been sold for breaking up purposes and that there were not apparently any restrictions.
My letter did not suggest any particular form of planning, but advocated the application of Planning Powers in the interest of amenity. The formation of the Town Planning Preliminary Statement already prepared by the Town Council, and approved by the Minister of Health, for an area including pelt of the estate, was obviously a factor which could not be disregarded, and I therefore referred to it, but not by way of commendation. Nor did I for one moment suggest the encouragement of the establishment of a Garden City in that place, where it would obviously be quite inappropriate,
I am, Sir, &c., H. G. GRIFFIN, Secretary. C.P.R.E., 17 Great Marlborough Street, Regent Street, London, W. 1.
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