Thoughts on the Proposed Inclosure of Waltham (commonly called Epping) and Hainault Forests: In which a new plan is suggested for disafforesting the same: with the heads of the bill now proposed for that purposeStreet, Thomas
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Thoughts on the Proposed Inclosure of Waltham (commonly called Epping) and Hainault Forests: In which a new plan is suggested for disafforesting the same: with the heads of the bill now proposed for that purpose
It is not in the power of the Crown, in opposition to the proprietors of
land within any district, to enforce a general inclosure; and although,
from local circumstances, there may be such well-founded objections to
the measure as fully to justify the feelings of the gentlemen at that
meeting in the resolutions they passed, yet it seems to me that, on the
principle of commuting the rights of the Crown, and effecting inclosures
to such an extent, only, as would satisfy the Crown for a sacrifice of
those rights, they reject a proposal which it would be most desirable for
all the parishes within the Forests, and for the parish of Woodford in
particular, to have carried into effect. The quantity of waste land in
the parish of Woodford is estimated at about 300 acres, and the Crown
claims for its interests therein about one-third of that number. If a
bill were brought into Parliament for inclosing such proportion only as
the Commissioners should deem the Crown entitled to, or to allot a
certain proportion to be specified in the Act, it could be productive of
no advantage whatever to the parish of Woodford to have 100 acres of land
inclosed for the growth of timber, nor would it answer the purpose of the
Crown to have an inclosure of a similar, or, in many instances, a much
less quantity allotted in different parishes for that purpose; a very
different appropriation of such land would, I have no doubt, be much more
desirable; and the plan I would suggest is, that the Commissioners should
have a power of selling the lands allotted in lieu of the rights of the
Crown, and that the Bill should contain clauses, directing the
Commissioners to make their allotments in parcels of not less than two
acres, but not exceeding five or ten, and preferring those situations
where the proprietor of any dwelling-house or grounds should express to
the Commissioners his assent to the inclosure of waste lying near or
contiguous to such house or grounds, and that such owner should be
allowed a right of pre-emption of the allotment so inclosed, at a price
to be set thereon by two surveyors, one to be appointed on behalf of the
Crown, and the other on the part of the purchaser; such surveyors, in
case of disagreement, having power to elect a third, to decide between
them. Now, supposing 100 acres to be so allotted, I would ask, if there
are not twenty houses in the parish of Woodford, the owners of which
would be glad to have an addition of five acres of contiguous waste
inclosed; and if there are not, in every other parish within the Forest,
proprietors of land who would be glad to have such a partial inclosure as
would afford them an addition of a like quantity of land. It clearly
appears to me, that an inclosure, carried into effect upon this
principle, and to this extent, would be a most desirable measure for the
proprietors of houses and lands in every parish on the Forest: and there
should be a clause restraining the Commissioners from making inclosures
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