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68
Wasps
There are marked variations in the prevalence of wasps and in the
requests for help to deal with their nests. In 1956 there were only 213
such requests as compared with 345 in the previous year. The number
last year was 265. The Corporation's charge of five shillings was
recovered in all except three cases where the nests were on parcels of
land of which the occupiers were unknown.
Charges. Up to 1949 those who approached the department for
help in dealing with wasps' nests were put in touch with one of the staff
who did the work privately outside normal hours. Because of the large
number of requests in 1949, the matter was considered by the Public
Health Committee who decided that the work should be done by any of
the rodent operatives prepared to do it. This arrangement was on the
understanding that those doing the work should be remunerated for
approved overtime, and that no charge should be made to the householder.
The matter was considered again in 1954 in view of the rising
cost of the service, and the feeling in some instances that the operatives
were being asked to do work which might reasonably have been carried
out by the householder. The Committee decided the service should
be continued on the same lines. The District Auditor, however, raised
the question of the legality of this free service as there appeared
to be no specific statutory authority authorising it. The Council at their
meeting in July then resolved to make "a charge of five shillings in each
case for the service of the rodent operative in respect of the destruction
of wasps' nests in the borough on the understanding that sympathetic
consideration would be given in case of hardship."
Caravan Site
The conditions at the caravan site at North Lodge steadily
deteriorated, more especially as larger numbers of caravans had been
admitted to the site. The story of the efforts to bring about improvement
goes back quite a long way. Any action which the Public Health
Committee could take could only be to improve the condition of this site,
with the possibility of its being used indefinitely for this purpose. As
general opinion did not favour this, the Committee held its hand, in the
hope that the Planning Committee could find a solution to the problem
The enforcement proceedings taken under the Town and Country Planning
Act initiated by the Planning Committee in 1951 were finally abandoned
in 1954, the owner having been able virtually to establish an existing user
right of the land as a caravan site. No other action was taken while
there were prospects of a solution to the difficulties being found on these
lines. Although the land at North Lodge is designated in the Country
Development Planning for compulsory acquisition by the County Council
for welfare purposes, the County Council did not feel able to take action
in advance of the Minister's approval of the County Development Plan.
In February the Public Health Committee decided that 15 caravans
was the maximum number to be permitted on the site; each occupier
was told it would be necessary for him to submit an application for
consent for him to retain his caravan there.