TWENTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT 1955 

TO BE PRESENTED AT 

THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 

TO BE HELD AT 

15 RUTLAND SQUARE, EDINBURGH 1 

On FRIDAY, 22nd APRIL 1955 

At 2.45 p.m. 

The Rt. Hon. WALTER ELLIOT, C.H., M.C., M.P. 

will give an Address 

THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE PRESERVATION OF RURAL SCOTLAND 

OFFICE-BEARERS 

Honorary President 

SIR JOHN STIRLING MAXWELL, BT., K.T. 

POLLOCK HOUSE, GLASGOW 

President 

THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF GALLOWAY 

CUMLODEN, NEWTON-STEWART 

Vice-President 

SIR SAMUEL S. STRANG STEEL, BT. 

PHILIPHAUGH, SELKIRK 

Chairman of Council 

COMMANDER H. C. COURTNEY CLARKE, D.S.O., R.N. 

CLINT LODGE, ST BOSWELLS 

Vice-Chairman of Council 

ALAN STEWART-CLARK 

18 LAUDER ROAD, EDINBURGH 

Hon. Secretary 

H. A. RENDEL GOVAN, A.R.I.B.A. 

44 QUEEN STREET, EDINBURGH 

Hon. Treasurer 

IAN D. ROSS, W.S. 

1 THISTLE COURT, EDINBURGH 

Organising Secretary 

KENNETH MACRAE, W.S. 

Office: 15 RUTLAND SQUARE, EDINBURGH 1 Telephone FOU 7631 

THE COUNCIL 

ELECTED MEMBERS 

Chairman-Commander H. C. COURTNEY CLARKE, D.S.O., R.N. 

Mrs MACKENZIE ANDERSON, 69 Southpark Avenue, Glasgow, W.2 

J. BARTHOLOMEW, M.C., M.A., F.R.G.S., Manor House, Inveresk 

E. S. BELL, F.R.I.A.S., Cranstonhill, Stirling 

Mrs D. S. BROWNE, 5 Greenmount Avenue, Burntisland 

Mrs M. A. COWAN, Eastfield, Bowden, Melrose 

Mrs RAMAGE DAWSON, Balado, Kinross 

W. FERRIS, 159 West Nile Street, Glasgow, C.1 

A. CAMPBELL FRASER, Borthwickshiels, Hawick 

Commander T. G. D. GALBRAITH, M.P. 

W. M. GLASS, 38 Drummond Place, Edinburgh 

A. GRAHAM, 1 Nelson Street, Edinburgh 3 

LESLIE GRAHAME ‘MACDOUGALL, R.S.A., F.R.I.B.A., P.R.I.A.S., 6 Ainslie Place, Edinburgh 3 

The Right Hon. THE EARL OF HADDINGTON, K.T., M.C., Mellerstain, Gordon, Berwickshire 

Mrs R. M. HEDDERWICK, 44 Coates Gardens, Edinburgh 12 

Mrs NORMAN KENNEDY, O.B.E., Doonholm, Ayr 

D. J. MCARTHUR, 39 Lauriston Place, Edinburgh 3 

B. N. H. ORPHOOT, R.S.A., F.R.I.B.A., Well House, Easter Belmont Road, Edinburgh 12 

Major R. A. OSWALD, Cavens, by Dumfries 

The Right Hon. LORD POLWARTH, 3 Albyn Place, Edinburgh 12 

Mrs A. E. ROBERTSON, 17 Cluny Gardens, Edinburgh 10 

F. CHARLES ROGERS, L.D.S., R.F.P.S., 43 Manor Place, Edinburgh 3 

ALAN STEWART-CLARK, 18 Lauder Road, Edinburgh 9 

Brig, ALAN H. C. SWINTON, M.C., Kimmerghame, Duns, Berwickshire 

The Hon. DAVID J. WATSON, Q.C., 45 Northumberland Street, Edinburgh 3 

WM, WILSON, R.S.A., 11A Belford Mews, Edinburgh 4 

CONSTITUENT BODIES AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES 

AFFILIATED SOCIETIES AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES 

* Elected to the Council as representative 

THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE PRESERVATION OF RURAL SCOTLAND 

ANNUAL REPORT, 1955 

THE Council have pleasure in submitting the Twenty-seventh Annual Report of the Association, together with a Statement of Accounts for the year ended 31st December 1954. 

General.

 The year 1954 has been a busy one for the Council. A wide variety of matters has engaged their attention and as the work of the Association becomes better known it is gratifying to note the increasing number of occasions on which the support or advice of the Council has been sought by public bodies and private individuals. 

The Council.

 During the year the following members were co-opted by the Council: Mrs Ramage Dawson, Mrs Norman Kennedy, O.B.E., Mr A. Campbell Fraser, and Commander T. G. D. Galbraith, M.P. 

The Council welcomed Mrs J. Hamilton Meikle, the new representative of the Scottish Women’s Rural Institutes. 

The Council have met regularly each month (July and August excepted). Their meetings continue to be well attended by the representatives of other Societies, and consequently decisions continue to be taken with the benefit of the views of many Scottish interests. A very good liaison continues to be maintained with Government Departments, Local Authorities and Public Boards. 

By the courtesy of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland, the monthly meetings of the Council continue to be held at 15 Rutland Square, Edinburgh, and the Annual General Meeting was once more held there in April 1954. The Council again wish to express their thanks to the Royal Incorporation for the very valuable support given to the Association in this way. 

Vice-President.

-The Council were very sorry to receive intimation of Mr William Walker’s intention to resign from the office of Vice-President, and this was accepted with regret. Mr Walker, who is one of the original members of the A.P.R.S., has been indefatigable in working for the Association since these early days. He has served on the Council since 1932 and was elected Vice-President in 1949. Mr Walker regularly attended the Council meetings and took an active part in the work of the Association. His advice and good counsel will be missed, but the Council are glad to know that his interest in the A.P.R.S. remains undiminished and will continue. Mr Walker has been asked to remain on the Council even although he may not be able to attend very often. 

On the resignation of Mr Walker, the Council unanimously resolved to fill the vacancy in the office of Vice-President by appointing Sir Samuel S. Strang Steel, Bt. 

Membership. 

During the year under review The District Councils’ Association for Scotland joined the Association. This is a very welcome addition to the Constituent Bodies as this Association is representative of every district in Scotland. 

The total number of Constituent Bodies and Affiliated Societies is now forty-two. 

During the year the following new individual members joined:- 

LIFE: 

Captain E. W. Hardy, R.N. 

ANNUAL: 

Sir James Fergusson of Kilkerran, Bt. 

Miss Logan. 

Mrs K. Oliver (rejoined). 

T. Graham (rejoined). 

Mrs J. Hamilton Meikle. 

Lady Ramsay Fairfax-Lucy (rejoined). 

A. G. Brown. 

A. D. A. Scott. 

G. J. Knowles. 

Mrs N. Kennedy, O.B.E. 

Mrs M. R. Elliott. 

Commander T. G. D. Galbraith, M.P. 

Miss J. E. Robertson. 

ASSOCIATE:

 Mrs J. Noel Phillipps. 

Mrs Knowles. 

Committees.-

The following are the Standing Committees appointed by the Council:- 

• CHAIRMAN’S ADVISORY COMMITTEE (including Finance and Publicity): 

Chairman – Commander Courtney Clarke. 

• JOINT RIVER POLLUTION, FISHERIES AND HYDRO-ELECTRIC SUB-COMMITTEE: 

Chairman – Commander Courtney Clarke. 

Vice-Chairman – Mr B. N. H. Orphoot, R.S.A., F.R.I.B.A. 

• RURAL AMENITIES SUB-COMMITTEE: 

Chairman – Mrs Mackenzie Anderson. 

Vice-Chairman – Mr Alan Stewart-Clark. 

• BUILDINGS OF ARCHITECTURAL MERIT OR HISTORIC INTEREST: 

Chairman – Mr William Walker, A.R.E. 

Annual General Meeting, 1954.

-The Annual General Meeting was again held at 15 Rutland Square, Edinburgh, on 8th April 1954. The President, The Right Honourable The Earl of Galloway, was in the Chair, and there was a satisfactory and representative attendance. An address was given by The Right Honourable The Earl of Dundee, who discussed many of the problems with which the Association is concerned. During the course of his remarks Lord Dundee suggested that the object of the Association should be not to protest against changes in the appearance of the country or even some measure of industrialisation, but rather to ensure that these changes which are inevitable or desirable should be carried out with good design, good taste, and with full regard for Scottish character and Scottish tradition. The public bodies which had come in for most criticism, he supposed, from lovers of rural Scotland, were the Hydro-Electric Board and the Forestry Commission, both doing work absolutely vital to the future prosperity of Scotland. Both of them, if their work was carried out with imagination and with care, could make this country more beautiful, but both might need watching, and he was sure that the authorities who controlled them were always willing to listen to responsible representations. Lord Dundee’s address was fully reported in The Scotsman’ and other papers. 

In moving the adoption of the Annual Report, Commander Courtney Clarke, Chairman of Council, made particular reference to the Anti-Litter Campaign and suggested that Local Authorities should endeavour to arrange permanent or semi-permanent dumps in rural areas where there is no official collection so that individuals can deposit their tins, bottles, &c., there. 

After the meeting tea was served and members had the opportunity to meet and enjoy an informal discussion. 

Litter. 

In furtherance of the special anti-litter campaign for 1953 the Council had printed a notice which contained the following appeal:- 

PLEASE HELP TO KEEP SCOTLAND TIDY 

with advice as to how this could be achieved. About two thousand copies of the notice were distributed to Scottish Women’s Rural Institutes, Youth Hostels, Ancient Monuments, The National Trust, The Scottish Tourist Board, Youth Organisations, Hotels, Banks, County Clerks, Town Clerks, Schools, Clubs, &c. Anyone who is able to arrange for the display of the Notice can obtain a supply from the Organising Secretary. 

In June a letter was sent to some thirty newspapers circulating in Scotland inviting the support of the public for the campaign, and visitors to Scotland were asked through the English Press to co-operate. A further letter was sent by the Chairman to the Scottish Press during August. 

As mentioned in the Annual Report for 1953, the Scottish Education Department had been approached, and in June 1954 a Memorandum was issued to all Education Authorities drawing attention to the continuing need to remind pupils to preserve the natural amenities of the countryside by observing tidy habits and avoiding acts of damage and disfigurement. 

The Council gave consideration to the proposal that Local Authorities should be urged to make bye-laws making it an offence to scatter litter in certain areas, such as beauty spots, popular beaches, &c. They were advised that County Councils have a general power to make such bye-laws under the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1947, but, as far as can be ascertained few, if any, County Councils have made bye-laws concerning litter for the landward parts of counties, although there are such bye-laws in force in some burghs. This matter is still engaging the attention of the Council. They were very gratified to learn recently, however, that East Lothian County Council is preparing bye-laws to deal with the litter problem at Yellowcraig Beach near Dirleton. 

The Chairman gave a talk to the Perth and Kinross S.W.R.I. Federation on the Association’s Anti-Litter Campaign, &c., on 12th March 1955. 

Hydro-Electric Development. 

During the period of this Report the following Schemes were received from The North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board:- 

1. No. 34. Gisla (Lewis) Project. 
2. No. 35. Loch Chliostair (Harris) Project. 
3. No. 73. Invergarry/Fort William Transmission Lines.
4. No. 18. Lawers Project. 
5. No. 31. Tummel Valley Additions Project. 
6. No. 71. Loch Glashan Project. 
7. No. 25A. Breadalbane Project (Amendments).

The Council were asked by the Board for their observations on a proposed 132kV transmission line from Beauly to Inverness, Nairn, Forres, Elgin and Keith as far as Nairn, and a proposed 275kV line from Beauly as far as the Caledonian Canal. The Council after consulting the County Councils concerned had no comment to make at this stage. 

The Council were also asked by the Board for their comments on the Clunie/Charleston (Dundee) transmission line and, after consulting the County Councils of Angus and Perth and ascertaining that certain amendments of the route had been agreed, the Council informed the Board that they had no observations to make. When the Board asked the A.P.R.S. for their views on the proposed route of the Invergarry/Fort William transmission line, the Council had already had their attention drawn by members to the proximity of the proposed line to the Commando Memorial near Spean Bridge. The Hydro-Electric Sub-Committee went carefully into the matter and the Chairman visited the site. After correspondence and meetings with officials of the Board, the Board undertook to route the line farther to the west of the Memorial than originally planned. 

The Council took up with the Board the question of pipelines leading to power stations and received the assurance that for the future it is the aim of the Board to do without surface pipe-lines wherever practicable, as has been done in the Glen Shira Scheme, and where this cannot be done to continue to coat the pipes with olive green/brown paint and, in consultation with the Statutory Amenity Committee, to carry out planting or other forms of screening. 

Sheep Dip. 

In April 1954 a letter was sent to newspapers circulating in rural Scotland containing the annual appeal to farmers and others concerned to take every possible precaution to prevent sheep dip flowing into rivers or burns. 

Arising out of a complaint by a crofter in South Uist (which was investigated) it came to light that a certain well-known brand of sheep dip is described on the label as “non-poisonous.” It has been ascertained that the active agent in this dip is an insecticide which is highly injurious to fish and other aquatic life while not necessarily harmful to animal life. It is understood that the classification of dips into poisonous and non-poisonous categories merely indicates whether or not they contain arsenic, but all contain ingredients which are toxic to fish. In the next annual letter to the Press it is intended to state that all sheep dips are poisonous to fish, whether described as non-poisonous or not. 

Rivers Pollution.

-Five of the ten River Purification Boards provided for in the Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) (Scotland) Act, 1951, have been set up. These cover the following areas: Ayrshire (Rivers Ayr, Doon, Garnock, Girvan, Irvine, Stinchar); Banff, Moray, and Nairn (Rivers Deveron, Findhorn, Lossie, Nairn, and Spey); Lothians (Rivers Almond, Esk, Tyne, and Water of Leith); Solway (Rivers Annan, Cree, Dee, Nith, and Water of Luce); Tweed (River Tweed and its tributaries, including the Whitadder). 

One of the first duties of each Board will be to make a comprehensive survey of the rivers in their area. After this has been done they may prescribe standards for any of the rivers or parts of them, which will determine when matter discharged into the rivers is to be regarded as poisonous, noxious, or polluting. 

In a considerable part of the area north of the Caledonian Canal, where the problem of preventing pollution is not so acute, it is not intended at present to establish River Pollution Boards. But the County Councils of Caithness, Orkney, Ross and Cromarty, Sutherland and Zetland are now exercising the powers of River Purification Authorities under the 1951 Act. 

Orders have been made establishing Boards for the Clyde and Forth areas. In both instances, however, the Local Authorities concerned failed to agree on the terms of an administrative scheme for the discharge of the functions of the Boards. An administrative scheme has therefore been made by order for the Forth Board which provides that the Board shall meet for the first time not later than the middle of March. An Order for the Clyde Board is in preparation. 

Two of the Local Authorities who objected to the establishment of a Board for the Dee and Don area have, on reconsideration, withdrawn their objections and an Order establishing a Board for that area has now been made. 

In the Annual Report for 1954 attention was drawn to the need for making bye-laws (dealing with dumping of litter in rivers, the siting and construction of sheep dippers, &c.) under Section 25 (1) (b) and (c) of the Act, as on “the appointed day” the enactments which included the powers of River District Boards and County Councils to deal with pollution would be repealed. The appointed day on which River Purification Boards came into full operation has been fixed for a number of rivers in the last six or seven months, but no bye-laws under Section 25 (1) (b) and (c) have been made. The Council, while fully appreciating that considerable delay must take place in making bye-laws under Section 25 (1) (a) for prescribing standards in terms of Section 26 (1), felt that there was no valid objection to going ahead with some of the other bye-laws. The Council took this matter up with the Secretary of State for Scotland, suggesting that the Department of Health for Scotland should prepare model bye-laws for the guidance of River Purification Boards as presumably it is desirable to have as much uniformity as possible throughout Scotland. A reply has been received to the effect that the making of such model bye-laws should be deferred until the River Purification Boards have had time to make detailed surveys of the rivers in their areas and have also acquired practical experience in dealing with problems of pollution. The Council is not prepared to accept this view and intends to continue to press the matter. 

Airth, Stirlingshire.

-At the instance of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, which had discovered by chance that some interesting old houses in Airth were to be demolished in the course of a redevelopment scheme, representations were made to the various authorities concerned. The buildings could not, however, be saved and the Council regret that the official decisions were taken without, as it seems, any adequate sounding of public opinion or consultation with interested parties. 

Dirleton. 

At the end of September 1954 the attention of the Association was drawn by members, who had been approached by certain residents in the village of Dirleton, East Lothian, to the proposal of the County Council to erect a public convenience on the village green. The Council on looking into the matter ascertained that work on the building had already been commenced and certain local objectors had petitioned the Court of Session and obtained interim interdict on the ground of nuisance. The village green at Dirleton is one of the most charming examples of the few village greens in Scotland and is much frequented by visitors and tourists. The Council considered that if the public convenience was placed where the County Council had decided to erect it, it would dominate the scene and detract from the beauty of the village. Representatives of the Council visited the village to see whether an alternative site could be found and a contact being made with the Ministry of Works it was ascertained that they would be prepared to consider the erection of the public convenience within the grounds of Dirleton Castle, provided the owner’s consent was obtained. A letter was sent to the County Council stating the views of the A.P.R.S. and asking the County Council to give consideration to the alternative site proposed. When the petition for suspension and interdict came before Lord Strachan in the Court of Session a few days later, the A.P.R.S. letter was mentioned and his Lordship continued the case to enable the County Council to take up with the Ministry of Works the possibility of the erection of the public, convenience within the Castle grounds. There followed a meeting at Dirleton between representatives of the County Council, the Ministry of Works, and the A.P.R.S. at which the proprietor of the Castle was also present. A site within the Castle grounds was inspected which was acceptable to the Ministry of Works and the proprietor, provided the plans met with their approval. The County Council, however, adhered to their view that the original site was the most suitable and practical. The attitude of the County Council was reported to the Lord Ordinary and in due course he dismissed the petition as irrelevant. The building of the public convenience on the original site is now being proceeded with. 

This is yet another case of the help of the A.P.R.S. being asked for at too late a stage for the Council to be able to do much to assist those concerned. It is felt that if local residents would call in the A.P.R.S. at the very beginning when the project they wish to protest about is only in the planning stage the chances of the A.P.R.S. being able to advise alternatives or negotiate a settlement would be very much greater. Once a Local Authority has commenced building operations and incurred expenditure they can hardly be expected to change their plans except for very cogent reasons. 

Rural Bus Services

.-The Council have continued to watch this question, which was fully dealt with in last year’s Annual Report. 

The Chairman, Brigadier Swinton and the Organising Secretary accompanied representatives of The District Councils’ Association for Scotland and the Scottish Women’s Rural Institutes who met Commander T. D. Galbraith, M.P., Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland, at St Andrew’s House on 22nd January. The deputation laid before the Under-Secretary the difficulties of rural areas in regard to bus transport, and supported a resolution adopted by the District Councils’ Association to the effect that District Councils should as a last resort be empowered to provide rural bus services. Commander Galbraith expressed much sympathy with the difficulties in connection with rural bus services, but he pointed out that legislation would be extremely difficult and said that all he could do was to note what had been said and report to the Secretary of State. 

Proposed “Sky Sign” at South Queensferry.

-In May 1954, West Lothian County Council, as Local Planning Authority, refused consent for the display of a huge red neon-lighted sign on the roof of the Distillers Agency Ltd. building at South Queensferry. The proposed sign was to be 126 feet long by 24 feet high and was to be erected on a framework above the roof of the five-storey building. It was to be used to advertise a brand of whisky and would be visible by night and also by day for many miles around. The reasons given by the County Council for their decision were: (1) that the proposed sign would seriously injure the amenity of the Burgh of South Queensferry, and (2) that the size of the proposed sign was such that it would be visible for a considerable distance at night and in the daytime the supporting framework would be unsightly. The applicants, Claude-General Neon Lights Ltd., on behalf of the Distillers Agency Ltd., lodged an appeal with the Secretary of State for Scotland. The County Council invited the Association to give them their support and be represented at the local hearing of the appeal. 

Queensferry Town Council had previously been consulted by the County Council for their views on the matter and had almost unanimously agreed that they had no objection to the proposed sign. The Chairman wrote to the Provost of the Burgh pointing out that the sign would affect not only the amenity of the Burgh, but also the amenity of a very large area outside, and called upon the Council to reconsider their attitude. Copies of this letter were sent to the Department of Health for Scotland, &c. 

In view of the interest which was being shown by bodies such as the A.P.R.S. and the National Trust, the local inquiry, which was to have been held on 22nd July, was postponed. In the meantime, the matter was reviewed at the September meeting of Council of the Association, at which representatives of many Constituent Societies were present, when it was unanimously resolved to express the strongest possible opposition to the proposed advertisement. A letter was sent to ‘The Scotsman’ so that the general public would be given an opportunity of learning about this threat to the amenity of the Forth area, and, as a result of the publication of this letter, the matter received considerable publicity in the National Press. 

A Public Local Inquiry was held on 29th September and 18th October at the County Buildings, Linlithgow, by Sir John Handford, C.B., O.B.E., on behalf of the Secretary of State. Evidence was given in support of the County Council by the A.P.R.S. (represented by the Chairman and the Hon. Secretary), the National Trust, The Royal Fine Arts Commission for Scotland, Fife County Council, and two private objectors. In his evidence the Chairman expressed the view that the erection of the sign would be a grave departure from ordinary advertising and would create a dangerous precedent. The building itself was not very picturesque and this enormous sign would draw attention to it. If permission were given in this case there would undoubtedly be competition among firms to outdo one another in the display of illuminated signs, and it would be difficult to refuse others permission. 

It has now been announced that the Secretary of State has dismissed the appeal on the grounds that the proposed sign by its dominating size and situation would be detrimental to the amenity of the Burgh of South Queensferry and the surrounding locality. This decision was welcomed by the Council, who felt that the South Queensferry appeal was by way of being a test Scotland generally, especially the east, has so far been immune from this type of advertising, but if the South Queensferry neon sign had been permitted it would have provided a precedent for further advertising in this fashion both in the Forth area and elsewhere. 

Control of Advertisements.

-During the year the Society for the Prevention of Disfigurement in Town and Country (S.C.A.P.A.), which was founded in 1893 as the Society for Checking the Abuses of Public Advertising, decided to disband, as its principal objective of subjecting outdoor advertising to effective public control had been achieved by the passing of the Planning Acts of 1947. It was arranged that the work of the Society should be taken over by other bodies, and the A.P.R.S. agreed to take over the functions of S.C.A.P.A. as regards Scotland. The sum of £61, 16s. 3d. was received from the funds of S.C.A.P.A. as a contribution towards any additional expense which might be incurred in taking over the functions of that body. In order that the knowledge and experience which have been accumulated by S.C.A.P.A. may not be lost, a Standing Committee has been formed known as the Advisory Council for the Control of Advertisements. The A.P.R.S. is represented on this Committee by Mrs Mackenzie Anderson and Commander T. G. D. Galbraith, M.P. 

The Council feel that in some quarters there is a disappointing lack of progress in putting into effect the Regulations for the Control of Advertisements made under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act, 1947. Accordingly, towards the end of 1954 they decided to review again the whole question of advertisement control in Scotland. Letters were addressed to all County Clerks asking them to give the position with regard to advertisement control in their Counties, and many helpful replies were received. From these replies it has been ascertained:- 

• The Counties of Aberdeen, Dumfries, Inverness, Kincardine, Perth and Kinross, and Renfrew have designated areas of special control of advertisements. In general these County Councils consider that there is little doubt as to the value of special control as applicable to rural areas. 
• Seven other County Councils are either considering or proceeding with the designation of areas of special control. 
• In twelve Counties at least no steps have been taken to challenge existing advertisements since the Act came into force. A case in point is that of the advertisements on Soutra Hill (Midlothian), the removal of which has been urged by the A.P.R.S. for five years or more. The County Authorities say that they are too busy to consider the matter for at least some time. Three of these advertisements, one of which is a reflecting sign, are on a sharp bend of the road, and are not only objectionable from the amenity point of view but could be considered a danger to road safety. 
• Several County Councils say they are satisfied that they have adequate powers of control of advertisements under the Regulations without designating areas of special control. This may be all right at present in some northern counties, but in the more populous counties in the south the lack of progress made in the removal of unsightly advertisements does not bear this out. 

The Council feel strongly that the countryside generally calls for a special standard of control of commercial advertising and they are of the opinion that unessential outdoor advertising should be prohibited in rural areas. Special Control procedure provides the means of achieving this object. The broad effects of Special Control are the prohibition of some kinds of advertising and the imposition of certain restrictions on the Specified Classes. Special Control relieves a Local Authority of a great administrative burden by actually precluding consideration of a large number of separate applications which would otherwise have to be dealt with one by one. The Council are aware that in some quarters the view is held that the Regulations give County Councils adequate power for the control of advertisements without going the length of designating areas of special control. In the Council’s view that is not so, and to achieve the desired result they would like to see Special Control adopted as the standard mode of advertisement control in all rural areas. 

Planting of Slag Heaps.

-A request was received from North British Rayon Ltd. regarding the treatment of an old dump near Jedburgh. Mr Alan Stewart-Clark and Mr J. Grant Roger visited the site and submitted a very useful report which has been for- warded to the Company. Two hundred birch seedlings have recently been planted out on the dump in accordance with the advice given on behalf of the A.P.R.S. and it is hoped that they will flourish. 

Building Legislation Committee.

-During 1954 the Secretary of State for Scotland set up a Committee whose task is to assess every aspect of the law in Scotland affecting building and building control, and to recommend if they see fit the most radical alterations to it. The Committee invited the Association to submit evidence, and a Sub-Committee under the leadership of Mr William Walker have prepared a Memorandum which has been forwarded. It is expected that the Association may be asked to give oral evidence at a later stage. 

Miscellaneous.

-Other matters which have engaged or are still engaging the attention of the Council during the period of this Report include: Proposed Cheviot National Park; Names at Village entrances; Trees along Mertoun/St Boswells road, Dunstaffnage; Caravan site at Maidens, &c. 

Finance. 

There is appended hereto an Abstract of the Accounts for the year to 31st December 1954. Receipts exceeded payments by £156, 12s. 10 1/2 d., but it should be noted that the contribution of £61, 16s. 3d. from S.C.A.P.A. is non-recurring. It is also worthy of note that subscriptions from members, donations and income arising on the Association investments have all increased during the year. 

The Council have gratefully acknowledged donations received from the following:- 

As a result of the Council’s recommendation to limit transfers in each year from the Life Membership Fund to Revenue, only 5 per cent (£16, 0s. 6d.) was drawn leaving a balance of £304, 9s. 6d. During the year the Association’s holding of £800 2 1/2 per cent Defence Bonds was realised and re-invested at 43 per cent, and steps have been taken since the closing of the Accounts under review to invest a further £300 or thereby of the balances in the Bank Accounts. 

It will therefore be seen that the Association’s financial position has been well maintained during the past year. 

Chairman’s Remarks.

-I would like to add my personal tribute to Mr William Walker on his relinquishing the office of Vice- President. With his very long experience on the Council, I have found him a very great help to me personally as Chairman of the Council. 

The Council have had many matters brought to their notice during the year and all of these have been carefully considered and, as far as possible, every aspect of each case has been examined. There are some cases in which national interests may override some amenity considerations, and the policy has been not to oppose such cases, but rather to seek full co-operation in their development in order to get the maximum attention paid to the amenity side. 

The Association has reason to be grateful to members of Council who have given their time and, in many cases, have travelled long distances to attend monthly meetings of Council and meetings of Sub-Committees. 

The increasing activities of the Association have entailed a corresponding increase of administrative work for the Organising Secretary and his staff, to whom I would like to express once again the special thanks of the Council. 

H. C. COURTNEY CLARKE, Chairman of Council. 

STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS

 For the year to 31st December 1954 

[see PDF]

EDINBURGH, 11th March 1955.-I have examined the books and accounts of the Association for the Preservation of Rural Scotland and certify that the foregoing Balance Sheet exhibits a true and correct state of the Association’s affairs as shown by the books as at 31st December 1954. 

15 ALVA STREET, 

EDINBURGH. 

(Signed) ALEX. HARRISON, C.A. 

Printed by William Blackwood & Sons Ltd., Edinburgh