View report page

CARAVANS
The Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act, 1960, makes provision
for the licensing and control of sites by local authorities and the imposition by them
of standards of amenity and hygiene.
The Caravan Sites Act, 1968, with the exception of Part II of the Act, came
into force on the 26th August. This is an Act to restrict the eviction from caravan
sites of occupiers of caravans and makes other provision for the benefit of such
occupiers. Part II of the Act which comes into operation on a day to be appointed
by the Minister provides for the establishment by local authorities of sites for the
use of gipsies and other persons of nomadic habit, and controls in certain areas
the unauthorised occupation of land by such persons.
The Act also amends the definition of "caravan" as defined in Part I of the
1960 Act to include mobile homes which fall below prescribed measurements.
Apart from site licences for individual caravans associated with horticulture,
there is only one licensed residential caravan site in the borough. This well run
site is situated in the Green Belt area and provides semi-permanent living accommodation.
A proposal for the establishment of a fully equipped residential site
provided and controlled by the Council was not proceeded with.
Open spaces and the wide grass verges on some of the main roads in the borough
continue to attract itinerant caravanners but as the spaces are developed it is hoped
that this problem will become less serious and that the problem will be solved
completely when Part II of the 1968 Act is implemented.
Under the North West London (General Powers) Act, 1965, court proceedings
may be instituted to effect the removal of itinerants from sites. The taking of such
action, however, results merely in movement from one site to another, and every
effort is therefore made to encourage voluntary, albeit reluctant. removal.
Although no increase in the number of itinerants is apparent, much of the
inspectors' time is devoted to what is still a current problem.
CANAL BOATS
Provisions in relation to health are made in Sections 249-258 of the Public
Health Act, 1936, as amended by Section 79 of the Public Health Act, 1961.
The River Lea Navigation runs through the eastern extremity of the borough
from north to south. The canal boats using this waterway for the transport of goods
are not residential and do not therefore require registration for public health
purposes.
100