Managing inland water for leisure and recreation — an example from Southern England

Abstract

The private enterprise development of a series of disused gravel pits, situated just 20 miles from the centre of London, into an attractive and commercially viable theme park for leisure and recreation is described. Three great waves have broken across the face of Britain since 1800. First the sudden growth of dark, industrial towns. Second, the thrusting move along far flung railways. Third, the sprawl of car based suburbs. Now we see, under the guise of a modest word, the surge of a fourth wave which could be more powerful than all the others. The modest word is ‘Leisure’. (Civic Trust, 1965)