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and whilst—so long as no detriment to others is caused—some reason
might be advanced for occupancy by the owners themselves, there
can be none—even on the grounds of alleged generosity—for letting
these places at a substantial figure to people unfortunate enough to
be so needy as to see in such letting a temporary solution to their worries.
Again the individual circumstances of the case must and will influence
our attitude towards it but I intend to see that any structure used for
habitation will be fit for habitation. It is to be expected therefore
that from time to time action will continue to be recommended to you
in respect of sub-standard dwellings which although relatively insignificant
in number do so prejudice the housing amenities of our district
Caravans.
Caravans and their siting still occasion us concern from time to
time. Whilst it is easy theoretically to establish that a caravan sited
almost anywhere and provided with a dustbin and pail closet and a
bucket for clean water, does not in fact constitute anything against
which on public health grounds we can take action, it is nevertheless
clear that such a situation is highly undesirable. One has every sympathy
with caravan dwellers who genuinely cannot find somewhere
better to live and are therefore forced to live with their families in
confined and often, one imagines, uncongenial surroundings. Permanent
life on a caravan site can assuredly not be the life of choice
for many people in really urban surroundings and it certainly is not
the choice we as a Public Health Authority would wish them to have
to make. If for any reason the perpetuation of caravans as a means
of permanent or semi-permanent dwelling for inhabitants of an urban
district is necessary, then such caravans should be placed only in a
site which from every point of view can reasonably be regarded as
satisfactory.
It is also unsatisfactory that no reasonably clear-cut overcrowding
standard seems to exist for caravans. The result is that it is practically
impossible to quote any legal standard when suggesting overoccupancy
of any individual structure. This is a matter which might
receive careful official consideration at a national level.
Medical Aspects of Re-housing.
Some 466 certificates were considered during the year.
To secure significant priority the circumstances must be unusual
as otherwise any priority given must be given so often as to negative
any real value.
It appears to me that such conditions as ' nervous debility ' (a
general term impossible of real definition) must in some degree represent
the lot of perhaps a majority of our applicants whether or not they
seek medical confirmation of it and one's judgment must therefore be
influenced by this assumption.
The number of housing applications influenced generally by medical
factors must be legion, the number which should in equity be determined
by such factors is of a much lower order.
Land Charges Enquiries.
During the year 3,043 land charges enquiries were referred to the
department regarding the question of outstanding sanitary notices.