Author: LOCKE John (Chairman)
Title: First Report from the Select Committee on Open Spaces (Metropolis); Together with the Proceeedings of the Committee, Minutes of Evidence, and Appendix (HoC 178)
Description: London, House of Commons 1865 85pp 32x20, sewn pamphlet Front page grubby, some corners slightly creased and folded, edges a bit ragged, top corner of last few pages creased, with a piece missing from the final page, not affecting text, good thus for fragile item In 1865 the 5th Earl Spencer had tabled a private members bill in the House of Lords seeking to turn Wimbledon Common into an enclosed and fenced public park, citing his inability to stop it being exploited by contractors extracting building materials from it. Opposition came from neighbouring landowners, who felt that that the proposal would reduce the value of their property, and from those wanting to protect ancient rights to common land. Rather than decide the issue, Parliament set up this Select Committee to take evidence. The eventual report sided with the opponents of Spencer's proposals, and led quickly to a prolonged period of political controversy about the protection of common and open spaces in and around urban areasReputedly the only person to 'make Gladstone smile', John Locke had a long career as MP for Southwark, supporting causes around rights for the working class and local government.

Keywords: CITY PLANNING


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