London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Havering 1966

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Havering]

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Public Relations Officer in his bi-monthly journal "Havering
Review", which is reproduced below: —
"The invasion of parts of Havering by gipsies has
occupied space in the national and local Press. The Council
is not unsympathetic towards gipsies — indeed it believes
in the desirability of helping to integrate them into the
community. Despite impressions to the contrary which may
have been induced by the fact that Havering took steps
for the physical eviction of gipsies from Oldchurch Park the
Council is in the van of progress in dealing with the over-all
problem of gipsy incursion.
This is clearly demonstrated by the decision which
was made by a majority of 50 to 6 at the meeting of the
Council on January 18. This reads:—
"That the Town Clerk be authorised to prosecute
gipsies who contravene the local byelaws.
I
"That gipsy caravans on unauthorised sites be physically
moved on to the highway with the assistance
of contractors.
"That protective measures be taken where necessary
to prevent access to unauthorised sites.
"In order to provide an alternative site on which the
gipsies may settle temporarily, an ad hoc committee ...
be authorised to consider a temporary site with basic
sanitary facilities provided pending the establishment
of a permanent site for gipsy families.
"The Council urges the Minister of Housing and Local
Government to issue a directive requiring at least ten
of the London Boroughs in the outer area to provide
and manage encampments for gipsies.
"That responsibility for financing these establishments
and controlling the sites should be the collective
responsibility of all the London Boroughs".
PICTURE WINDOWS
It has become fashionable for householders to remove
woodwork and small panes of glass and to substitute large panes
of glass known as picture windows. Picture windows are increasing
in popularity among householders but recent experience
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