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LONDON COUNTY COUNCIL (GENERAL POWERS) ACT, 1959 - CARAVANS
A few weeks before Christmas a vacant site in the Borough was
found to be occupied by seven caravans and one tent.
The caravan dwellers were interviewed and admitted that they
moved on to the site without seeking permission from the owner of
the land. Section 22 of the above-mentioned Act provides that
no person shall use or knowingly allow to be used as a site for
movable dwellings any land unless he holds a licence granted by
the Borough Council.
Licences had not been applied for nor issued in this case,
and accordingly Notices were served under the provisions of the
London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1959 on the caravan
dwellers and also on the owner of the — land.
On receipt of the Notice the owner of the site visited the
caravan dwellers and they promised to leave. This, in fact, they
did, but in only a week they returned.
Further Notices were delivered to the site by hand, and the
caravan dwellers were told by the Chief Public Health Inspector
that unless they left the site within three days arrangements would
be made to tow the caravans onto the road, where the matter would
be dealt with by the Police.
The warning, however, was ignored and, together with a vehicle
equipped with towing gear loaned by the Borough Engineer's Department,
the Public Health Inspector visited the site accompanied by Police
Officers. It proved unnecessary, however, to use the vehicle. The
occupiers of the caravans asked to be allowed to pack their equipment
and leave. This was agreed to, and they left.
The local Police gave the utmost help in the matter and their
co-operation was greatly appreciated.
STREET CLEANSING
There are over l6l miles of roads to be cleansed in the Borough,
of which 11 per cent. are swept at least once daily; 8 per cent. three
to six times weekly; and 8l per cent. twice weekly.
Fifty-four street sweepers are employed on the work and, in
addition, a mechanical sweeper and sprinkler is used to sweep the main
traffic routes in the Borough and the roads in the shopping areas of
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