The Civic Amenities Bill - Trust Annual Report 1966
This is a year in which Preservation of ancient cities has deservedly attracted more attention.
First of all, there is the report that five Historic Towns have been named for pilot studies for a new national policy on preservation and change. They are Bath, York, Chester, King's Lynn and Chichester.
The Minister of Housing and Local Government said that ways must be found to integrate preservation and planning policies with investment policies. The concept behind the Minister's new scheme is to preserve whole historic quarters instead of single buildings, and blend preservation with modern traffic needs.
There is a new idea of compensation or "heritage bonuses" for owners of old properties who lose by not redeveloping it. The pilot studies have been inaugurated because not enough is known about the problems involved.
Consultants would examine the problems, recommend what should be kept and how best this could be done in economic, financial and physical terms, and what factors should govern change. From all this it is hoped that general policies will emerge. Building preservation orders would be maintained, and individual buildings would provide the essential foundations of the new building.
Then again, the only subject about which there has been agreement between the Government and Opposition benches has been on the Civic Amenities Bill. When this becomes Law, local authorities will be required to provide places where vehicles and rubbish may be deposited.
Mr. Duncan Sandys, moving the second reading of the Bill, said "It seeks to ensure that the planting of trees is given its due place in our town planning, and it seeks to remove eyesores, such as abandoned motor cars and rubbish dumps." Mr. Sandys also referred to the "scandalous" case of Silhill Hall near Birmingham, where a man deliberately destroyed one of the most perfect 14th century half timbered houses, which was covered by a building preservation order. This increased the value of the site by £15,000. The maximum fine of £100 was gladly paid. The Bill provides for an unlimited fine, prison, or both for such an offence, so that a defendant could secure no benefit from breaking the law.