Cut to ribbons

6 July 1934

RAPID URBANISATION CAUSED concern in the 1930s, as seen in a letter to us from one John Rooth.

“Ribbon development is the most wasteful, ghastly and horrible eyesore that has arisen since the war,” he wrote. “Since 1929 alone, Kingston, Ewell and Horley have become unrecognisable as the old, pretty places they once were.

“I prophesy that in 15 years’ time there will not be a field left on the road from Brighton to London.

“Many people I know say that they would far rather come here by train as it comes through such pretty country!”

Sadly, Rooth’s village station, Kingscote, was closed in 1955. But thankfully his prediction proved incorrect, thanks to the Town and Country Planning Act of 1947.