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

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Hendon 1963

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hendon]

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CARAVANS
CARAVAN SITES AND CONTROL OF DEVELOPMENT ACT, 1960.
There is now only one licensed caravan site in the Borough. This is at a site at Brockley Hill, Stanmore
and is for one caravan only. Inspections showed that the conditions attached to the licence were being
observed.
A site at Brent Park Road. N. W. 9. is used only for winter quarters by members of the Showman's
Guild of Great Britain and so is exempt from the provisions of the Act relating to site licences.
Action also had to be taken from time to time to deal with the caravans parked on the grass verges
of the North Circular Road, N. W. 2. or on land in the vicinity. The owners of the caravans are usually
engaged in scrap metal dealing and car breaking and leave accumulations of unwanted rubbish behind.
The caravans are also without sanitary accommodation with the result that the surrounding area is often
left in a disgusting condition. In all, 42 caravans had to be "moved on" from this area during the year.
Six caravans also parked on land or greenswards in the Edgware area and had to be dealt with similarly.
Legal proceedings were instituted under Section 345 of the Middlesex County Council Act, 1944
against the occupier of a caravan for placing it on land at Brockley Grange Farm, Edgware without the
previous consent of the Council. The defendant was fined 20/-. The caravan was moved four days before
the hearing.
The owner of the farm was also cautioned later in the year for allowing land to be used for camping
purposes. This was discontinued.
Towards the end of the year, 26 caravans moved on to a site at Stonegrove, Edgware. Summonses
were issued by the Council under the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 and the Middlesex
County Council Act 1944 and the owners of the land also issued a writ claiming an injunction. As a result
of the latter the site was vacated and the Council's summonses were accordingly not proceeded with.
DRAIN TESTS AND DRAINAGE WORK
Tests of drainage systems and examination of sanitary fitments were carried out and reports submitted
thereon during the year as follows:—
For prospective purchasers of properties 13
In connection with applications for advances under the
Housing (F.P.) Act, 1958 147
Fees are paid to the Council for this work.
As a result of the above sanitary surveys the following works were carried out under the supervision
of the Public Health Inspectors.
Main drains relaid or repaired 44
Branch drains relaid or repaired 128
Manholes reconstructed or repaired 143
Soil ventilating pipes renewed or repaired 79
Fresh air inlets renewed, repaired or removed 41
Sanitary fitments renewed or repaired 50
Gutters or rainwater pipes renewed or repaired 44
Gullies or gully surrounds renewed or repaired 86
Waste-pipes renewed or repaired 26
1589 visits were made to drainage and plumbing works in progress during the year.
CLEARANCE OF BLOCKED DRAINS
The Council continues to operate its service for the clearing of drains at private premises, where this
can be done by rodding or plunging, on request by the owner or occupier. The charges for this work are
as follows:—
During normal working hours 15. 0d.
Evenings — Monday to Friday £1. 10. 0d.
At week-ends £3. 0. 0d.
1205 drains were cleared under this arrangement during the year. Of these 1132 were cleared
during normal working hours, three in an evening and 70 at week-ends.
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