world than can be summarized in a brief table of this kind. The basic problem with the book is that it lacks a clear focus, fails to set and recognize proper limits and be- comes too diffuse. As a result the author is consistently drawn into mak- ing sweeping and occasionally trite statements which do nothing to en- hance the overall quality of the text. At times the chapters become inven- tories of theories, factors or topics which are relevant but are not proper- ly discussed. Perhaps another more fundamental problem is the topic itself. Land is a difficult issue with detailed legalistic implications and involves complex economic theorizations; planning, which is often centrally concerned with the allocation or control of land, has its own structure of laws, regulations, statutes and customs. These are issues which raise formidable challenges for many disci- plines, and the task of summarizing them is fraught with danger. There are clearly many good and useful things about this book. It is of most value to undergraduates who need a point of reference for any study of the development of land use studies and planning. There is an extensive and detailed bibliography which will allow them to follow up some of the ideas initiated in the text, and some of the factual material which has been gathered from diverse sources is of value. Overall, this text will have a useful role as a synthesis of a wide range of material, but it will disappoint those who look for answers rather than questions and who might favour a deeper analysis of more focused topics. David Herbert University of Wales, Swansea, UK Conference reports Fringe meeting Annual Joint Conference of the Royal Town Planning Institute and the Landscape Institute, ‘Landscape Challenge of the Urban Fringe’, London, UK, 30 April 1993 The problems of the urban fringe are numerous, and decades of research have still not succeeded in identifying the best ways of planning and manag- ing it. This conference focused on the problems of creating and maintaining the optimal landscapes of the fringe and considered the ‘Landscape Chal- lenge of the Urban Fringe’. The con- ference could be seen as being in two parts. The morning session focused on the identification of the zone, its planning problems and the conse- quent policy vacuum within the urban fringe. The afternoon session was more concerned with the practicalities of conserving or creating improved landscapes by looking at best practice and implementation. The morning session was opened by LAND USE POLICY October 1993 Carys Swanwick, who immediately de- monstrated the problems of definition by suggesting that countryside around towns (CAT) was a more accurate description than urban fringe since it moved away from the generally poor images one recalls when thinking of the urban fringe and more accurately describes the variable landscapes that range from very poor and degraded areas to extremely high-quality, well- maintained countryside. For this reason, it is important not to generalize about the countryside around towns, and a way of avoiding this is the use of landscape assessment. This methodology identifies regional character areas and on a more detailed level the landscape types which contri- bute to a sense of place. Such a tech- Book reviewslConference reports nique has been employed in a study of areas around London’s metropolitan greenbelt. Using aerial photographs over time, the study was able to iden- tify qualitative and quantitative changes in the landscapes of these areas. The survey found significant changes in the study areas, including slight increases in urban land, in- creases in transportation routes, in- creases in open space and woodland and decreases in farmland. These changes were largely due to in- cremental development and unsuit- able changes in land use such as horti- culture, mineral extraction, landfill, new road construction, new golf courses, the succession of semi-natural vegetation and changes in ownership. Small-scale changes are not seen to be a problem in themselves, but when accumulated they can lead to major changes in the landscapes’ character and consequently a loss of quality. To prevent this happening there should be consistent use of appropriate plan- ning policies and widespread use of landscape assessment, particularly to identify (1) landscapes where conser- vation should be the priority, (2) land- scapes in decline that require restora- tion, and (3) landscapes so degraded that enhancement is no longer desir- able or feasible. It was also noted that different areas require different mechanisms to meet their needs, such as public ownership, conservation designations, landscape renewal and management schemes. zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfe Landscape architect’s perspective The problems of the urban fringe were then tackled from a landscape architect’s perspective by Roger But- ler (Landscape Architect, British Waterways). He suggested that although the urban fringe has always been with us, it has become in- creasingly important because the growth in the scale of the zone had resulted in more widespread prob- lems. Butler described the fringe as being grey in definition and in character, hosting activities that serve the town but which are not worthy of being 327