§ 43. Sir ARTHUR FELLasked the President of the Board of Agriculture if his attention has been called, to the considerable acreage of good land in the neighbourhood of Haynes Park and Wimbledon which is at present under grass and which might be used with advantage to provide allotments for the population,of the district; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?
§ Mr. PROTHEROAbout 100 acres of land at Raynes Park and Wimbledon has already been taken for allotments, but if the hon. Member has information of any unsatisfied demand for allotments and will send particulars to the Board, inquiries will be made.
§ 44. Sir A. FELLasked the President of the Board of Agriculture if his attention has been called to the threatened enclosure of a portion of Wimbledon Common for thc purpose of providing further land for allotments; if he is aware that the land proposed to be enclosed is a part of what is known as the swamps, and consists of peat and gravel which is water-logged in winter and burnt up in summer, and that the crops likely to be produced from it will not pay the cost of production; that already a large part of the common has been taken by the War Office for the military camp and that every yard of the remainder of the common is wanted for the recreation and health of the large number of persons from the neighbourhood and from London, who use it continually; and, if necessary, will he refuse to sanction such land being enclosed?
§ Mr. PROTHEROThe Board have consented to the use for allotments of 7 acres of Wimbledon Common on the north-west of the Causeway near its junction with Camp Road, and they have also expressed their willingness to sanction the cultivation of 29 acres of Wimbledon Common extension. If my hon. Friend will supply further particulars of the proposals to which he refers the Board will cause inquiries to be made.
§ Sir A. FELLConsidering the importance of the great common of Wimbledon, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he has personally seen the piece of ground proposed to be taken, and also the piece which is being enclosed, and which cuts off one part of the common from another?
§ Mr. PROTHEROI regret to say that I have not had time personally to inspect Wimbledon Common, but the matter is in the hands of the people of Wimbledon, and I cannot imagine that such a use is being made of the Common as will prevent the utilisation of the rest of the Common for the ordinary purposes for which it exists.