303 MINISTRY OF TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING REPORT OF THE NATIONAL PARKS COMMITTEE (ENGLAND AND WALES) Presented the Mbits ter of Town and Country Planning to Parliament by Command of His Majesty July 1947 LONDON HIS MAJESTY’S STATIONERY OFFICE P m C E 4J. 6^. NET Cmd, 7121 House of Commons Parliamentary Papers Online. Copyright (c) 2006 ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. u LIST OF MEMBERS Sir ARTHUR HOBHOUSE (Chairman). Lieut.-Colonel E. N. BUXTON, M.C. I Lord CHORLEY of KENDAL. Mr. JOHN DOWER, A.R.I.B.A., M.T.P.I. Mr. LEONARD K. ELMHIRST. Sir WILLIAM GAVIN, C.B.E. Mr. R. B. GRAHAM. Mrs. GERALD HAYTHORNTHWAITE,, M.B.E. Dr. J. S. HUXLEY, F.R:.S. Mr. CLOUGH WILLIAMS-ELLIS, M.C., F.R.I.B.A., M.T.P.I. Mr. J. B. BOWERS (Secretary). The estimated cost of the preparation of this Report [including the cost of surveys] is £2,084-7-6 of which £640-7-6 represents the estimated cost of printing and publishing. House of Commons Parliamentary Papers Online. Copyright (c) 2006 ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. • * • 111 Contents [Paragraph numb&rs are given in brackets after each heading) Chapter Page I. INTRODUCTION Appointment and Terms of Reference (i), Meetings and Surveys (2)^ Evidence Received (3), Acknowledgements (4-5), The Wild Life Conservation Special Committee (6-7), The Footpaths and Access Special Comniittee (8-9), The Scope of this Report (10) ... i II. THE HISTORY AND PURPOSE OF NATIONAL PARKS National Parks in Other Countries (11-17), The Nature and Purpose of National Parks in Other Countries (18-21), The Movement in England and Wales (22-25), The Movement in Scotland (26-27), The Nature and Purpose of National Parks for England and Wales (28-32) 3 HI. SELECTION AND DELIMITATION The Number of National Parks (33-34), Factors in Selecxion (35), The Areas Recommended (36), Comments on Selection.(37-39), Boundaries (40-42), Factors in Boundary-Making (43), Conser- vation Areas (44), Maps (45) 9 IV. THE CENTRAL ORGANISATION The National Parks Commission (46-47), Constitution (48); / ■ Staff (49”5^) *** *'** *** *** *** *** •*.' ... ^3 V. THE LOCAL ORGANISATION Functions (57), General Definition of Planning (-58-67), The Meaning of Management (68-69), Main Requirements for the Local Organisation (70-75), The Park Committee (76-79), Planning Functions of the Park Committee (80-81), Manage- ment Functions of the Park Committee (82), The Local Staff of the Commission (83-89), Relations between the Central and Local Organisation (96) 15 VI. PLANNING PART I. GENERAL PLANNING REQUIREMENTS. The Commission and the Central Planning Authority (91), General Exemptions from Planning Control (92), Reference of Certain Cases to the Minister (93), Compensation Payable under the New Bill (94)-, The Correlation of Planning within and outside National Parks (95-98), The Objectives of Planning in National Parks (99) 21 PART 2. CLASSES OF DEVELOPERS (IOO). Private Persons and Bodies (101-102), Statutory Undertakers (103^108), Local Authorities (109-111), Public Corporations (112), Government Departments (113-116) 24 PART 3. VARIOUS FORMS OF. DEVELQPMEN:T AND LAND USE. Building (117-119), Agriculture .(120-126), Forestry (127-132)., ■ Mineral Working (i33-137), Water Catchment (138-142), Electricity Distribution (143-145), Telegraph and Telephone Lines (146-148), Radar and Radio Installations (449-150), Military Training and Service Uses (i 51-154), Aviation (i55“^5^)» Railways (159-160), Roads (161—167), Camping and Caravanning (168-172), Outdoor Advertising (173-176), Ancient Monuments and Historic Buildings (177-178) 28 ' 56426 ^ 2 House of Commons Parliamentary Papers Online. Copyright (c) 2006 ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. IV Chapter Page VII. MANAGEMENT The Scope of Management'(179), Acquisition of Land by the Com- mission (180), Land Offered in Lieu of Death Duties (181), Management of Land Held by the Commission (i82-ti83). Conveyance of Land to the National Trust (184), Forestry Land (185), Agreements with Owners (186), Various Functions of Management (187), Removal or Mitigation of Disfigurements (188), Litter (189), The Prevention of Damage (190), Woodland Management and Tree Planting (191), Road Works (192), Holiday- Accommodation (193-202), National Park Centres (203), Sport • and Recreation (2C4-209), Walldng (210), Rock Climbing (211), Motoring (212), Cycling (213), Canoeing and Boating (214-215), Saihng (216), Riding (217), Fishing (218), The Study of Natural History (219), Entrance Fees and Qther Charges (220),. The Making and Enforcement of Regulations (221-224), Powers Required by the Commission (225-226) .... “ f,.* ••• 39 VIII. CONSERVATION AREAS Definition and Purpose (227-228), Selection (229-233), Designation (234), Planning Organisation (235-240), Advice of the National Parks Commission (241-242), Special Planning Protection (243-246), Compensation under the New Bill (247), The Pro- motion of Open-Air Enjoyment (248-250), Agricultural and Forest Areas (251-254), Nature Conservation (255-256), Finance (257”~^5^) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 5^ IX. THE COAST National Parks and Conservation Areas on the Coast (259-260), The Special Problems of the Coast (261-264), Coastal Planning Advisory Committee (265) ... ... ... 57 • X. NATURE CONSERVATION The Wild Life Conservation Special Committee (266-267), General Recommendations (268-272), Nature Conservation in National Parks (273-274), Protection of Wild Life in National Parks (275-277), Information to the Public (278), Nature Reserves in National Parks (279-283), Conservation Areas (284-288) ... 59 XI. ACCESS AND FOOTPATHS The Footpaths and Access Special Committee (289), Rambhng Auccess (290-294), Footpaths and Bridleways (295-299), Long- distance Paths (300) 64 XII. FINANCIAL PROVISION Main Heads of Expenditure (301-302), Staff (303), Other Adminis- trative Costs (304), Building and Housing (305-306), Acquisition of Land (307), Removal of Disfigurement (308-310), Holiday Accommodation (311), The National Land Fund and Capital Expenditure (312-313), Special Compensation (314), Footpaths and Access (315), Recreational Provisions (316), Conservation Areas (317), Summary (318-321) 67 CONCLUSION ... •«• 73 SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS 74 I APPENDIX A.—APPRECIATIONS OF PROPOSED NATIONAL PARKS. I. The Lake District. 2. North Wales. 3. The Peak District. 4. Dartmoor. 5. The Yorkshire Dales. 6. The Pembrokeshire Coast. 7. Exmoor. 8. The South Downs. 9. The Roman Wall. 10. The North York Moors, ii. Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains. 12. The Broads 84 House of Commons Parliamentary Papers Online. Copyright (c) 2006 ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. V Page APPENDIX B.—^EVIDENCE RECEIVED 119 APPENDIX C.—^PROPOSED CONSERVATION AREAS 121 APPENDIX D.—^DISTAIJCES BETWEEN PROPOSED NATIONAL PARKS AND LARGER CENTRES OF POPULATION 123 APPENDIX E.—AREAS OF COUNTIES AND COUNTY BOROUGHS FALLING WITHIN PROPOSED NATIONAL PARKS 125 l^H^ ••• ••• •«* ••• ••• «•« ••• ••• 126 MAPS PROPOSED NATIONAL PARKS.—i. The Lake District. 2. North Wales. 3. The Peak District. 4. Dartmoor. 5. The Yorkshire Dales. 6. The Pembrokeshire Coast. 7. Exmoor. 8. The South Downs. 9. The Roman Wall. 10. The North York Moors. ii. Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains. 12. The Broads. ENGLAND AND WALES SHOWING NATIONAL PARKS AND CONSERVATION AREAS (in pocket). 56426 A3 House of Commons Parliamentary Papers Online. Copyright (c) 2006 ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. House of Commons Parliamentary Papers Online. Copyright (c) 2006 ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. 309 Report of the National Parks Committee (England and Wales) I. Introduction APP.OINTMENT AND TERMS OF REFERENCE To the Right Honourable LEWIS SILKIN, M.P., Minister of Town and Country Planning. Sir, ' ■ I. We were appointed in July 1945, with the following terms of reference: — {a) To consider the proposals in the Report on National Parks in England and Wales (Cmd. 6628) of May .1945, as to the areas which should be selected as National Parks; and to make recommendations in regard to the special requirements and appropriate boundaries of those areas which, in the view of the Committee, should be first selected. (&) To consider and report on the proposals made in that Report as . to the. naeasures necessary to secure the objects of National Parks,, and on any additional measures which in the view of tide Committee are necessary to secure those objects; and (c) To consider and make recommendations on such other matters affecting the establishment of National Parks and the Conservation of Wild Life as may be referred by the Minister to the Committee.. MEETINGS AND SURVEYS 2.. We have held in all So meetings of ouf Committee; in addition, members, working in teams of three or more, have made 17 survey tours of areas-under consideration as National Parks, occupying 85 days. EVIDENCE RECEIVED 3. We have received written or oral evidence from 60 bodies or persons interested in pur field of enquiry. A list of these is set out in Appendix B. The evidence submitted to us has been so extensive that we have hot thought it practicable to include it in this Report, even in summarised form. It has, however, been very carefully considered, and has provided much relevant information which has been of the greatest value to us in our enquiry. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 4. We wish to express our gratitude to all those who have put their know- ledge and experience at our disposal through the medium of written and oral evidence, and also to the many persons who have given us the benefit of their local knowledge on our surveys. In particular we are greatly indebted to those Local Planning Officers who contributed to our researches into the problems and requirements of their areas. We also wish to thank the officers of the Ministry of Town and Country Planning who have given us valuable advice, and the staff of the (Maps Section for their sJkill and promptness in carrying out an extensive programme of -mapping. 5. We cannot express too warmly our high appreciation of -the work of our Secretary, Mr.