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62.
It is understandable in a riparian district like Tower Hamlets, active
in industry and commerce and with extensive housing programmes, that much
time is spent on matters of urgency such as investigation of complaints,
housing surveys and inspection of works with the consequence that the
time available for work of a routine nature is limited. Nevertheless,
while it is acknowledged that much remains to be done, statistics in this
respect show considerable achievements particularly in relation to
inspection of food, food premises, offices and shops, food sampling and
smoke control duties
Probably the most tedious and frustrating task falling to the inspectors
is endeavouring to secure that the many houses included in
Compulsory Purchase Orders are kept in some sort of tolerably habitable
condition until demolition takes place. When organising clearance and
redevelopment areas it is inevitable that a period of time must elapse
between making an order and decanting the occupants of houses. As this
period, however, sometimes becomes protracted through somewhat obscure
reasons, it is not unnatural that some families, having been stimulated
by survey and public advertisement, become weary of waiting and press
claims for urgent renousing.
The numerous cleared sites awaiting development create a constant
problem. Throughout the year sites have become invaded by groups of
trespassing caravan dwellers resulting in public deputations to the
Council and enormous numbers of complaints regarding nuisance and conduct.
The repeal of Section 22 of the London Count" Council (General Powers)
Act 1959 by the London Government Act 1963, weakened the power of the
Inner London Boroughs in dealing direct with the trespasser -amatter now
referred to the London Boroughs Committee. Action is taken, however,
by serving Public Health Act notices on trespassers and notifying the
owners of sites (the Greater London Council being in possession of the
majority) with a request to evict the trespassers and protect the land
with corrugated iron sheeting. It is common practice for caravan
dwellers, having been evicted from one site, to move to another within
the district so that the operation has to be commenced all over again.
Nuisance caused by smoke, noise and disgraceful litter frequently
spreading from the site to the adjoining highway, created by the many car
breakers occupying land in the Borough, is another source of public
grievance. Inquiries reveal that the occupiers of these sites obtain
Town Planning consent to use the land for car or lorry parking only. It
would, therefore, seem appropriate that rigid enforcement action should
be pursued under Town Planning legislation in addition to the action
taken by the Health Department.