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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 1957 :—
"Early January found us with a substantial increase in the
men's register due mainly to seasonal slackness in the Building
and Decorating trades, and the general after-Christmas lull in the
retail trades, this position persisted throughout the quarter, but in
April business began to improve both outdoors and in the
Factories and this improvement continued until July when we
reached our lowest figures for the year for both men and women.
The midsummer figures however were still well above those of
1956 due to a steadying down of industrial labour requirements
attributed to economic causes.
The third quarter of the year saw the beginning of steadily
increasing registers of men and women, a condition which had not
been experienced in recent years, and due probably to the
continuing financial restrictions familiarly known as the " credit
squeeze." This increase became stabilised during the closing
months of the year, tempered partially and temporarily by the
seasonal call of Christmas markets.
To sum up the year, the level of unemployment has remained
generally low, but with smaller differences due to trade fluctuations
than in recent years."
Open Air Recreational Amenities.
Approximately 283*6 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 0.50
Cudham Village Cudham 10.39
Cudham Lane Green-Street-Green 6.5
Downe Downe 3.0
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