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

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Romford 1961

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Romford]

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(vi) Caravan Act, 1960
(a) LICENSED RESIDENTIAL SITES
There are six residential caravan sites within the Borough,
one of which is owned and managed by the Council.
At the end of the year there were 419 caravans, stationed
on the sites, being used for residential accommodation.
These sites are provided with the essential amenities in the
way of water supply, washing facilities, sanitary accommodation
and refuse disposal, hard standings are provided for most of the
caravans and electricity supply is available on two of the sites
for the occupants of the caravans.
All these sites are subject to Planning Approval under the
new Act, and conditions have been attached to the new licences
in order to bring these sites up to the requirements of the Model
Standards.
Frequent inspections are made of the sites and they are
maintained in a reasonably satisfactory condition.
(b) INDIVIDUAL CARAVANS
At the end of the year there were 45 individual caravans
stationed in the Borough, some on isolated plots and others on
land adjoining houses, most of these caravans are being used for
residential purposes.
None of these caravans are licensed under the Public Health
Act, 1936, and they will be subject to control under the new
Act and it is anticipated that enforcement measures will have to
be taken to secure the removal of the majority of these caravans
that are on unauthorised sites.
(c) GIPSY ENCAMPMENTS
A large number of gipsy caravans visit the district throughout
the year and encamp on unfenced parcels of land, mainly in the
northern end of the Borough.
These nomads cause a considerable nuisance to the householders
in the neighbourhood of the encampments by their
persistent demands for water, their very low standards of hygiene
and the refuse they leave behind when breaking camp.
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