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14
Unemployment.
I am indebted to the Manager of the Orpington Employment
Exchange for the following information with regard to unemployment
in the area during 1956 :—
"The year began with a much lower register of unemployed
than in the previous January due to relatively favourable trade
conditions, but with the severe weather in February, the Building
Trade was temporarily affected and the men's register was
abnormally high for a few weeks.
The position soon improved and the second quarter opened
with increased trade activity which reduced the registers to their
previous low figures and this state of affairs continued until well
into Autumn with only a very slight rise in November.
The demands for the Christmas season in the Post Office and
retail shops and in Food Processing gradually reduced the registers
further and the year ended with the unemployed figures well down.
The very mild weather and the much reduced turn-over of
labour in local industries are important contributory factors to this
position and gives more time for attention to our more difficult
problems, the placing of the disabled and the older men and
women."
Open Air Recreational Amenities.
Approximately 273.5 acres of land have been secured for
public recreational purposes within the Urban District, as under :—
Parks and Recreation Grounds.
Ward. Acreage.
Biggin Hill Biggin Hill 10.7
Chelsfield Chelsfield 2.10
Cudham Village Cudham 10.39
Cudham Lane Green-Street-Green 6.5
Down Downe 0.5
Farnborough Farnborough 10.0
Glentrammon Green-Street-Green 13.5
Goddington Goddington South 63.95
Grassmeade Goddington North 9.6
Knockholt Knockholt 0.75
Petts Wood Crofton North 12.27
Poverest Knoll 17.5
Prattsbottom Playground Green-Street-Green 0.055
St. Mary Cray St. Mary Cray 19.0
Willett Petts Wood 6.1
Farnborough (Opp. New Inn P.H.) Farnborough 0.134
Public Gardens.
Broxbourne Gardens Knoll 0.82
Riverside Gardens St. Mary Cray 5.8
The Priory Gardens Goddington North 14.03