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47
SHOPS ACT, 1950.
The number of shops in the area remains very constant. The
figure at the 31st December, 1961, shows an increase of five over
that for 1960. This development has been confined to the High
Street, Sidcup, area. The position throughout the district is as
follows:—
Lamorbey and Blackfen 262
Sidcup and Footscray 295
North Cray and St. Paul's Cray 113
Chislehurst and Mottingham 201
871
Under the Shops Act, premises have to comply with certain
standards of lighting, heating, ventilation, sanitary and washing
accommodation; facilities for staff to take meals and seats for
female assistants. These requirements have been met in previous
years and all plans of new premises, or alterations, are scrutinised
to ensure that developers have made the necessary provisions.
Other sections of the Act deal with the hours during which
certain assistants may work and the hours during which sale of
goods may or may not take place. Shops are permitted to remain
open only for the sale of specified commodities, on the early closing
day and on Sundays. During the year it was necessary to issue
warnings to proprietors of a few small shops, who do not always
observe these restrictions, especially on Sundays.
There are no Closing Orders (in respect of the early closing
day) operative in the district. Normally closing takes place as
follows:—
Wednesday—St. Paul's Cray L.C.C. Estate (except Leith Hill),
Chislehurst,
The Oval, Lamorbey.
Thursday—Sidcup (other than above),
North Cray,
Mottingham.
Some shops, however, close on days other than the above and
provided they comply with certain conditions, this is permissible.
The Council again decided to suspend the general closing
hours for the period immediately preceding Christmas, but little
advantage appears to have been taken of this concession.
Visits and observations in connection with the Shops Act totalled
490, and the following infringements have been dealt with.