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28
The proximity of these caravans to dwellings and the nuisances
caused by lack of sanitation, water supply, etc., and the refuse
left behind by the gypsies when vacating the sites, have naturally
led to a very great increase in the number of complaints by
residents regarding these nuisances.
The amount of a Sanitary Inspector's time necessary to deal
with this may be estimated when it is realised that during the year
no less than 611 caravans were moved by the Sanitary Inspectors
from land in Northolt, either by informal action or by pulling them
off the land on to the roadway by tractor with the assistance of
the police. In addition, 16 were removed after action had been
taken by the Sanitary Inspector in the local Magistrates Court
and Orders obtained for their removal. Neither Police Court
action nor the forcible removal of caravans from the land appear
to deter the gypsies. I would again emphasise that the large
number of caravans dealt with does not give a true indication of
the number of separately occupied caravans coming into the
district as, with a few exceptions, the majority belong to about
20 to 30 gypsies who, after having been removed from a site in
the District to a site outside the District, return after a lapse of a
few days or weeks to another site in the Northolt area and so, in
fact, we are constantly dealing with the same gypsies. Summonses
issued against them for not observing Court Orders result in fines
being inflicted by the Court but this does not appear to have any
permanent deterrent effect.
Several sites in the Northolt area have been fenced to prevent
access by gypsy caravans and this, together with the continued
building on land in this area will eventually solve the problem, but
I am afraid that until all waste land in Northolt is either built
upon or fenced, the nuisances caused by gypsy caravans will still
occur and a large amount of one Sanitary Inspector's time, which
would be better utilised on other duties, will have to be employed
in abating the nuisances caused by the presence of gypsy caravans
in the Northolt area.
Semi-Permanent Caravans.
In 1949/50 I reported upon twenty semi-permanent caravans
in the Northolt area. As a result of action taken this number
has been reduced at the end of 1950 to four. Further action
taken during the year resulted in the removal of two more of these
caravans and of the two remaining caravans, one is the subject
of a Demolition Order and action is being taken to enforce compliance
with this Order, and the other has been given until the end of
May to remove his caravan from the site.