What is Being Done to Restrict Ribbon Development
Page 44
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fiORE than 230 appeals were made IVIto the Minister of Transport, in the year ended March last, against decisions of highway authorities in refusing consent, or attaching conditions to a consent, under the Restriction of Ribbon Development Act, 1935, to the erection of buildings or the making of new accesses to roads. Some of the appeals were withdrawn, and of the remainder 47 were allowed and 87 dismissed.
A review of the decisions of the Minister was published a few days ago and it contains full details of all the appeals, and an explanation of the principles which the Minister has observed in arriving at his decisions.
A Midland county council's refusal to cons-it to the erection of a school *42 adjoining a heavily trafficked road was supported. Great importance is attached to the need for ensuring that children shall not be compelled to use busy streets more than is essential when going to and from school.
In allowing an appeal against a refusal to give consent to the erection of a petrol-filling station adjoining a new road, the Minister took the view that such stations, established at reasonable intervals, are a necessary adjunct to important traffic routes, and that means for access to them must, accordingly, be allowed. He supported highway authorities in cases where they sought to erevent the establishment of filling stations in such positions that their use would be likely to be a source of danger to traffic. In issuing his decisions on appeals, the Minister has frequently emphasized the fact that he considers it essential that, where frontage development along important roads is contemplated, accommodation should be provided for waiting vehicles off the highway.
The review is the third of the series and, read in conjunction with those itied earlier, provides a valuable source of information and guidance to all concerned with building development. Copies entitled "The Restriction of Ribbon Development Act, 1935: Review of Decisions given by the Minister of Transport from April 1, 1938, to March 31, 1939, on appeals made to him under Section 7 (4)," may he obtained from the Stationery Office, or through any bookseller, price 3s. 6d.