London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Chislehurst 1960
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Chislehurst]
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conditions may be attached to Site Licences controlling numbers of dwellings, sanitary facilities, etc. The following sites were in use in the area at the time the new Act came into force.
| Site | Average number of families | Approx. number of inhabitants | Licence under Public Health Act 1936 | Applied for Site Licence under New Act |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small gains Farm | 2 | 4 | Yes | Yes |
| Baugh Estate, Footscray | 2 | 6 | Yes | No |
| Ruxley Manor Farm | 1 | 2 | Yes | No |
| Lower Hockenden Farm | 1 | 2 | Yes | Yes |
| Twysdens Meadow | 2 | 6 | Yes | Yes |
| R/o Twysdens Meadow | 1 | 5 | Yes | No |
| Conservative Club, Sidcup | 1 | 2 | Yes | Yes |
| Chalk Pit, Ruxley | 30 | 147 | No | Yes |
| R/o White House, Church Road, Footcray | 3 | 6 | No | No |
| Sun Club, Hockenden | 2 | 5 | Yes | Yes |
| Greenwood, Birchwood Road | 1 | 2 | No | No |
| Perry Street, Chislehurst | 4 | 4 | Yes | Not applicable |
It will be seen from the last column of the above table that the
number of sites is likely to be reduced considerably.
The Chalk Pit, Ruxley, was the subject of a number of meetings
of a Special Committee, at which were considered various solutions
to the serious public health nuisance arising there. Subsequent to
the passing of the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act,
1960, the Pit was purchased by one of the caravan users. At that
time there were 35 caravans present. The new owner proved
co-operative and it was agreed to reduce the number of caravans to
25, as soon as possible. Permission envisages that the site will be
extinguished at the end of seven years. A site licence was issued
to him in the early part of 1961, but he had already commenced
extensive works, with a view to providing roadways, hard standings,
separate chemical closets, cesspool drainage and other amenities.
Work was seriously delayed during the winter by exceptionally
wet weather, but it is hoped that 1961 will see a vast improvement
over the conditions which have previously obtained on this site.