Brian Goodall

Environmental awareness, action and performance in the Guernsey hospitality sector.

Abstract This paper examines knowledge of and attitudes to environmental protection techniques and sustainable development and the nature of action taken to adopt the former to move towards the latter in a study of the existing Guernsey hospitality sector, a survey of which concentrates on the value added services it produces. An indication is given of the hospitality sectors current practice with regard to environmental performance in terms of materials and energy used and waste generation in existing premises as opposed to new development. The likelihood of what changes might be introduced to effect environmental protection is also explored. It is argued that given the evidence of their current attitudes, management strategies and methods, businesses are more likely to incorporate environmental objectives and practice if it can be demonstrated that benefits in the form of lower costs and/or higher revenues and profits result. Some key reasons for inaction are highlighted and the implications for the ways in which central and local governments, public sector bodies and the business sector itself can encourage sustainable development (SD) initiatives by individual enterprises are offered from a largely economic standpoint.

Localities and tourism

This paper develops a research agenda on the interaction between tourism as an activity and the character of the places in which it has been significant, with the aim of relating tourism studies more closely to developments in core areas of human geography. It focuses particularly on the various forms of externality generated by the industry and how their effects - on collective investment, innovation, governance, labour markets and the resort cycle - would be expected to vary between different types of tourist place. The research strategy that it proposes emphasizes the need for theoretically grounded comparative studies across a range of localities which are or have been involved in the industry. As pioneer postindustrial places it is argued that there are potential lessons to be drawn from an understanding of their experience for a much wider range of contemporary cities.

Heritage property, tourism and the UK Disability Discrimination Act

Heritage tourism depends on a physical resource based primarily on listed buildings and scheduled monuments. Visiting or staying in a historic building provides a rich tourism experience, but historic environments date from eras when access for disabled people was not a consideration. Current UK Government policy now promotes social inclusion via an array of equal opportunities, widening participation and anti‐discrimination policies. Historic environments enjoy considerable legislative protection from adverse change, but now need to balance conservation with public access for all. This paper discusses the basis of research being undertaken by The College of Estate Management funded by the Mercers Company of London and the Harold Samuel Trust. It assesses how the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act has changed the legal obligations of owners/operators in managing access to listed buildings in tourism use. It also examines the key stakeholders and power structures in the management of historic buildings and distinguishes other important players in the management process.

Access to historic environments for tourists with disabilities: a compromise?

Historic environments, the basis for heritage tourism, are difficult to access for people with disabilities. Many countries have introduced legislation to promote equal rights for people with disabilities. Historic environments, however, enjoy protection under national planning systems which limit the physical access improvements that can be made. The significance of historic environments for tourism in the UK is outlined. Barriers restricting tourists with disabilities accessing historic sites are reviewed from the heritage tourism service providers viewpoint. Interests of the major stakeholders are considered in terms of the apparent conflict between conservation and access issues as heritage tourism service providers seek to comply with disability discrimination legislation. From a study of access improvements made by major heritage tourism service providers, good practice is identified. However, physical access improvements to enable tourists with disabilities to visit historic environments are a compromise because of the strength of conservation interests. Questions remain as to whether this compromise is acceptable to the tourist with disabilities and whether intellectual access is an acceptable substitute for physical presence.

Problems arising from the use of continuous assessment for degree classification

Abstract Experience with continuous assessment at Reading has convinced geography staff of its value although some problems still remain. Students have problems of unfamiliar work requests, peaking of workloads, and any constraints that continuous assessment may place on choice of options. For teachers problems arise particularly where such methods are used with low staff/student ratios because continuous assessment is more time‐consuming. Examiners have problems in interpreting marks, especially with joint work, and the role of the external examiner needs to be reconsidered. More evidence is needed before it can be concluded that continuous assessment justifies the extra resources it needs.

The selection of scenic forest drives.

Goodall B. and Whittow J. B. (1980) The selection of scenic forest drives, Reg. Studies 14, 85–97. Leisure motoring involves a particular style of driving which can best be catered for by the development of scenic drives. However, scenic drives provided to date in Great Britain appear to have been selected largely on intuitive grounds. This paper, therefore, develops a methodology for measuring and comparing the availability of views from a road network and illustrates its application to the selection of a scenic drive from a forest road network. The relative importance of terrain and forest features in constraining views from forest roads can be established and, on the basis of assumed forest management practices, it can be shown how view availability dependent upon forest features changes through time.

Some effects of legislation on land values

Goodall B. (1970) Some effects of legislation on land values, Reg. Studies 4, 11–23. Land values depend on public policy. The role of the market in allocating and reallocating land amongst competing uses is examined first in theoretical terms. Even in a regulated market, price or value retains an allocational function and an attempt is made to show how and why land values change as a result of alterations in the legislative framework within which the market now operates. Changes in land values follow changes in legislation because existing use and/or development prospects of land are altered. This is followed by a discussion of the probable effects of a number of legislative actions—positive and negative planning proposals, land taxation and subsidies, rent control and compulsory purchase—in order to indicate what happens to individual land values and consequently to the spatial distribution of land values and the aggregate of land values.