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Site licences can only be issued if planning permission has
been granted by the Planning Authority. Site operators in possession
of planning permission cannot be refused a site licence which
will remain valid for the period of planning permission subject to
observance of the site licence conditions.
In deciding what conditions to attach to a site licence a local
authority must have regard to the Model Standards specified by
the Minister.
Provision is made for appeal against the conditions of a site
licence and subject to this proviso penalties may be imposed for
failure to comply with licence conditions.
During the year a site licence was granted for a period of three
years in respect of a single caravan in Caterham Drive, Old
Coulsdon, and the licence in respect of a caravan in Hall &
Company's Depot was renewed for a further year.
In July, 1961, a local inquiry was held into the appeal by Dean
Lane Park (Merstham) Ltd., against the grant of permission for
the retention of the caravan site at Dean Lane Park for a period of
three years, subject to conditions.
The Minister of Housing and Local Government upheld the
planning authorities' decision that the caravan use of the site
should not be permitted to continue for more than three years and
the appellant's submission that the site had existing use rights for
caravans was not accepted.
The Minister discharged certain conditions contained in the
permission relating to a run down of the site but such conditions
are included in the site licence.
Later in the year, legal proceedings were instituted against
Dean Lane Park (Merstham) Ltd., for non-compliance with a condition
in the site licence requiring the maintenance of a site register
giving the following particulars:—
(i) The make and model of each caravan on the site together
with its identification number and plot number or site
address.
(ii) Full name of occupier and owner of each caravan on the
site [as recorded in (i)].
(iii) Date of departure of occupiers and removal of each
caravan from the site (as recorded in (i) and (ii)].
The Company were fined £100 and 50 gns. costs. At the
Hearing the defendants indicated their intention to appeal to the
Divisional Court and the Magistrates' Court granted a stay of
execution for three months.
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