View report page

69
The next line of action was to try to bring about an improvement
of the site by insisting on the carrying out of works which could be called
for under Section 345 of the Middlesex County Council Act, 1954. Legal
proceedings instituted against the owner under this Section were heard in
February, 1957, but were adjourned as the owner expressed her willingness
to carry out the works required. Summonses were later taken out against
the owner of the site, the case being heard in October when the owner
was fined £2 on each of 25 summonses. Later the Committee were told
the owner's surveyor was preparing plans to provide on the site an access
road, hard standings, water supply points, and sanitary accommodation
for 15 caravans.
To make progress, the Council passed the following resolution:
"That in view of the bad conditions known to exist at the North Lodge
caravan site, the Council resolved to ask a joint meeting of the Public
Health and Housing Committee to give immediate consideration to the
future of this site and to lay down a long-term policy in relation to it."
The joint meeting suggested the following course of action:—
(1) That, subject to the concurrence of the Planning Committee and of
the Middlesex County Council, action be taken by the Council,
pursuant to Section 26 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947,
to extinguish the existing user rights of land at North Lodge, Edgware,
as a caravan site.
(2) That the agreement of the Middlesex County Council be sought to
the site being redesignated in the County Development Plan for
residential purposes, and to its acquisition by the Borough Council,
for Part V housing purposes, by the exercise of compulsory powers,
if necessary.
(3) That any restriction as to the number of caravans to be permitted on
the site as a result of the Court hearing on 26th September, 1957, shall
be enforced, by means of an injunction if necessary, at any time in
the future.
(4) That, subject to action being taken in accordance with paragraphs 1,
2 and 3 above, the Council be recommended to assume a moral
responsibility for rehousing up to fifteen families of caravan dwellers
on this site.