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The figures of 298 lettings includes 168 transfers which have
been effected from various types of Council controlled property.
During the year 14 families have been admitted to the Halfway
Houses.
5. The total number of families on the waiting list as at the 31st January,
1960:—
Couples 436
Families requiring two bedrooms 552
Families requiring three bedrooms 412
Families requiring four or more bedrooms 26
Old Age Pensioners and single persons 229
1,655
Applicants passed for accommodation 42
Families in requisitioned premises 2
1,699
During the year, 56 properties have been released from
requisition and 39 temporary bungalows on the Chalk Pit Estate
were demolished in connection with the permanent development
now taking place.
MOVEABLE DWELLINGS.
Existing legislation covering the use of tents, vans and sheds
for human occupation has not proved effective. Neither the
licensing provision of the Public Health Act, 1936, nor the Town
Planning Act gave sufficient powers to secure proper control in
certain instances. The Government has now introduced fresh
planning legislation which, if passed by Parliament, may provide
for control of future sites and the gradual reduction of existing
unsuitable encampments.
The district has suffered from the effects of this unsatisfactory
legislation. In 1957, Corke's Meadow site was eliminated only by
the rehousing of all inhabitants, a solution which still leaves residual
problems of fitting the caravan dweller into his new environment.
In the early part of the war, following bomb damage, some of
the dwellers at Corke's Meadow took their caravans to the Chalk
Pit at Ruxley. It was not expedient to have them removed at that
time, but control was exercised over them, as far as possible, by
the issue of licences, under the Public Health Act. In post-war
years the number of dwellers has increased and in spite of every
effort being made by the Council, and in latter years by the owner,
the growth of the site has continued and brought with it a
multiplication of unsatisfactory conditions.