Association for the Preservation of Rural Scotland (A.P.R.S.)
ANNUAL REPORT 1940
44 QUEEN STREET
EDINBURGH, 2 Telephone, 30317
OFFICE BEARERS
Honorary President
President
The Rt. Hon. THE EARL OF HADDINGTON, M.C.
Joint Vice-Presidents
Sir JOHN STIRLING MAXWELL, Bt., K.T. Sir IAIN COLQUHOUN, Bt., K.T., D.S.O.
Chairman of Council
Hon. W. T. H. SCOTT, MASTER OF POLWARTH
Joint Hon. Secretaries
F. C. MEARS, A.R.S.A., F.R.I.B.A. LESLIE GRAHAME-THOMSON, A.R.S.A., F.R.I.B.A.
Hon. Treasurer
Professor F. G. BAILY, M.A., M.I.E.E., etc.
Organising Secretary
EDWARD M’GEGAN
OFFICE: 44 QUEEN STREET, EDINBURGH Telephone 30317
The Council have pleasure in submitting the Annual Report of the Association, together with a Statement of Finances for the year ended 31st December 1939.
Cordial thanks are again due to the office-bearers of the Association for their personal services during the course of the past year.
The deaths of the following members of Council are recorded with deep regret:-
The Right Hon. The Earl of Crawford and Balcarres, K.T., General Sir Robert Gordon Gilmour, Bart., of Craigmillar,
Sir Henry Alexander, LL.D.
The active interest of all of them in the work of the Association and in many other objects of public benefit will long be gratefully remembered.
The Council have met regularly each month (August and September excepted). By courtesy of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland the monthly meetings of the Council have been held as for some years past at 15 Rutland Square, Edinburgh, and they desire to express again their cordial thanks to the Royal Incorporation for this facility.
The Press has to be warmly thanked for its interest in the objects and work of the Association.
In the interest of economy the Council issue only a brief report this year.
In spite of the uncertainty of the international situation the Association continued its normal activities during the first eight months of 1939, and plans were well advanced for dealing with the subjects of Rivers Pollution Prevention and National Parks, and also with the formation of new Branches. When war broke out in September these plans had to be suspended, and the Council considered the position of the Association in regard to war-time conditions and to the situation which would arise after the war. In November the Council notified all members that they had decided to make every effort to keep the Association in active existence, and they appealed to members to continue to give the Association their fullest possible support. That decision and appeal have met with a very encouraging response. Only a few definite resignations have been notified, and some of those members who have resigned have stated that they hope to rejoin the Association at the conclusion of the war.
The Council are convinced that it would be a gravely mistaken policy to suspend for the period of the war the organisation which has been built up during the past twelve years. The Association has steadily developed its influence in the matters with which it was formed to deal, and its advice and co-operation have been increasingly sought by Government Departments, Local Authorities, voluntary bodies and individuals. The war has by no means suspended its activities, and there are clear indications that the work and the influence of the Association will be greatly needed towards solving many serious problems affecting the amenities of rural Scotland which will arise when the war is over.
The Council confidently appeal for the continued support of all members throughout the period of the war. Every care will be taken to economise the financial resources of the Association, and every effort will be made to maintain the organisation in such a state of efficiency as will enable it to meet all war-time demands and effectively to undertake its post-war responsibilities.
Hydro-Electric Development in the Highlands.
The Council are glad to record that a further renewal of the scheme for large-scale production of calcium carbide by Highland water power seems now to be unlikely. As stated recently in the Press, there are proposals to establish factories for the production of carbide and other chemicals (now obtained from Norway and other countries) in the coal-bearing districts such as South Wales and the north of England, the electric power being obtained from steam-driven electric supply stations.
The Council believe that their opposition to the three Caledonian Power Bills is being justified by events, and that the policy for the provision of cheap electric power in the Highlands which they presented in their last Annual Report should be pressed at every opportunity. As will be remembered, this policy urged that all exploitation of the water power in the Highland area should be prevented, and that the power should be used primarily as a means to a single end, that of promoting industries suitable to the area and increasing the amenities of life to the people.
The Preservation of Ancient Buildings
The Council made careful enquiries concerning the scheme, launched by the Rev. Dr George F. Macleod, for the utilisation of existing parts of the Monastery buildings on Iona, and the erection of additions to these and of temporary buildings to be used for the training of young ministers for work on large housing estates. The existing parts of the Monastery buildings have been scheduled by H.M. Office of Works, and the Department will secure that any plans for the utilisation of these buildings or for the erection of new buildings will be submitted to them for their approval before any work is carried out. The Office of Works have also laid down that any parts of old buildings or other archæological finds which may be discovered in any excavations carried out on the site will be reported to them. The Council have also been assured that the Iona Trust fully realise the vital importance of nothing being done to affect injuriously the amenities of the Monastery ruins. All plans for any buildings which Dr Macleod may propose to erect will be submitted, before any further action is taken, to the Trustees, who will then forward them to H.M. Office of Works for their approval, and no building of any kind will be erected without the consent of the Trust and the Office of Works. It should be added that the Architect in charge of the work is Mr Ian Lindsay, who is a member of the Council of the Association, and the Council feel satisfied that all public interests are adequately safeguarded.
The Council also took action, in cooperation with the National Trust, on a proposal for a by-pass road at New Abbey, Kirkcudbright. The present road enters the village from the north, runs east through the remains of the principal gateway of the Cistercian Abbey and turns south at the Abbey Church, following through its course the medieval paths through the Abbey precinct. The new scheme would entail taking down one or more of the old cottages that have grown up beside the principal gateway of the Abbey, and would also entail breaching the monastic mantle wall at this part, where it is still entire. From there the new road would be driven through the southern part of the Abbey precinct roughly parallel to the fosse which forms its southern boundary. The Council accordingly wrote to the Ancient Monuments Board for Scotland deprecating this destruction and urging that an effort should be made to have all the unscheduled portions of the wall scheduled as soon as possible. The Ancient Monuments Board immediately recommended to H.M. Office of Works that the unscheduled portions of the wall should be scheduled at once, and this has been done. The situation now is that if the County Council decide to proceed with the proposed by-pass they must submit their plans to the Office of Works for their approval.
The Council congratulate the Border Branch of the Association on the success of their appeal for funds to enable the National Trust to take advantage of an offer by the Department of Agri- culture for Scotland to hand over Hume Castle to the Trust. A Local Committee, consisting of Lord Haddington, Lord Home, and Mr R. Stormonth Darling, has been formed. H.M. Office of Works have kindly agreed to allow the work of excavation and restoration to be carried out under the supervision of one of their Clerks of Works, who will cooperate with the National Trust and the Local Committee.
National Parks.
The National Parks Committee of the Association devoted several meetings to the preparation of a map of Scotland indicating (1) areas which are of exceptional beauty and should therefore be fully protected against anything that would injuriously affect their amenity; (2) areas in which new developments that would affect the amenity of the countryside should be subject to the consent of the proper authorities; and (3) the areas of the Parks owned by the Forestry Commission and by the National Trust. The map was submitted to the meeting of the Council held in July, and was approved. With the approval of the Council the National Parks Committee obtained permission from the British Association to exhibit this map and a set of photographs showing Highland scenery in the areas concerned. Twenty-five photographs were lent by the Scotsman, and the exhibit was hung in the Public Library in Dundee, where the meeting of the British Association was held at the end of August. A similar exhibit dealing with England and Wales was hung in the same room by the Council for the Preservation of Rural England and the Council for the Preservation of Rural Wales. Owing to the international situation, however, the meeting of the British Association abruptly terminated on 1st September, and there was thus little opportunity for the members of that Association to see the exhibitions.
The Council wish to record their grateful thanks to the proprietors of the Scotsman for the generous loan of the photographs and for their permission to retain these until a suitable opportunity may arise to exhibit them again.
Prevention of River Pollution.
While the Council fully realise that drastic amendment of the existing legislation is necessary before effective action can be taken to prevent river pollution, they have given the subject consideration on several occasions during the year. In June the condition of smaller rivers and streams was discussed, and a Rivers Pollution Enquiry Committee was appointed to investigate the matter and to report to the Council from time to time. The appointment of this Committee was publicly intimated in a notice to the Press which asked that any complaints with regard to pollution or to injury to amenities should be notified to the Association.
The Council note with pleasure the action which local authorities concerned are taking towards the purification of several rivers, notably of the Midlothian Esk and of the Leven (Fife).
The Regulation of Advertisements.
The war has postponed the attempts which were being made to find a satisfactory solution of the problem of the regulation of advertisements. Meetings of the Committee (on which the Association is represented by Lord Haddington) nominated by the Home Secretary and the Secretary of State for Scotland from the round-table conference of all the interests concerned, were held during the year and a measure of progress was reached, but difficulties then arose and war was declared before they could be fully considered. Further action with regard to Lord Polwarth’s Licensing of Advertisements (Scotland) Bill has also been inevitably postponed until after the war.
School Camps and Temporary Hutted Hospitals.
The Council wish cordially to thank the Department of Health for Scotland for consulting with the Association on the Department’s plans for the establishment of School Camps and Temporary Hutted Hospitals. In April representatives of the Association were invited to meet officers of the Department of Health, the Scottish Education Department and the Scottish Special Housing Association to discuss the question of the provision of School Camps. The scheme was fully described to the representatives of the A.P.R.S., and, after discussion, the latter promised the cooperation of the A.P.R.S. with the Departments and the Housing Association in the development of planning arrangements for the camps. These camps are intended to be used as holiday centres in peace time and as evacuation camps in war time. It should be added that Mr Mears has been engaged by the Special Housing Association to advise them on matters relating to the preservation of rural amenities in connection with all the camps which they intend to build. In May the Department of Health informed the A.P.R.S. that they proposed, as part of their plans for the hospital treatment of air raid casualties in the event of war, to erect as soon as possible a number of temporary hutted hospitals located at some distance from the main centres of population. The Department were anxious that, as far as possible, existing amenities should be preserved, and that this factor should not be lost sight of in the choice of sites and in the arrangements generally. They wished, therefore, to be able to obtain readily the views of the Association on any site that might appear to the Department to be suitable. The Council appointed a small Committee to meet representatives of the Department when necessary.
Branches.
Detailed plans for the formation of Branches for Ayrshire, East Lothian and Fife were in an advanced stage when war broke out, and but for the war these Branches would probably now have been functioning. The period of unavoidable suspension of the actual formation of new Branches will be utilised as far as possible in strengthening the plans for the three Counties mentioned and in preparing the way for the formation of Branches in other Counties. The Council would record that in June the late Earl of Crawford and Balcarres was asked if he would assist in the formation of a Branch for Fife, and that he gladly promised his active collaboration.
The Council tender their thanks to the officers and members of the Branches already formed, and would urge them to do all that they can to maintain the organisation which has been built up.
The following is a list of the Branches:
Border Branch .. Hon. Sec., R. Stormonth Darling, Esq., W.S., Woodmarket, Kelso.
Cowal Branch .. Hon. Sec., C. B. Lockie, Esq., 29 Ferry Brae, Dunoon.
Dumfriesshire Branch .. Hon. Sec., Miss I. H. K. Beattie, A.R.I.B.A., F.S.A.Scot., Breconrae, Dumfries.
Galloway Branch .. Hon. Sec., A. M’Cormick, Esq., Royal Bank Buildings, Newton Stewart.
Inverness-shire Branch .. Hon. Sec., James Munro, Esq., Clydesdale Bank Buildings, Inverness.
Moray and Nairn Branch .. Hon. Sec., Colonel J. E. Tennant, Innes House, Elgin.
Stirling and District Branch .. Hon. Sec., E. S. Bell, Esq., Cranstonhill, Stirling.
Finances.
It was hoped that the plan for establishing several new Branches would result in a large increase in the number of members and a more satisfactory balance sheet. This is now held over owing to the war, but the same cause has checked some of the other intended activities of the Association, so expenditure will show a reduction in the current year. Our position has been most sympathetically considered by the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust and a guarantee up to £200 against loss in this year has been given by them, which has greatly strengthened our financial position, and the Council is deeply grateful for their generous help. The scheme by which the Association can recover the income tax on subscriptions becomes more beneficial as the tax is increased, and members are urged to co-operate. The responsibility incurred is limited to an undertaking to continue the annual subscription for seven years, but ceases on the earlier death of the subscriber, while the Association is able to recover tax on each subscription, the present amount recoverable being 6s.
(Statement overleaf) [see PDF file]