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74
Plan for acquisition upon which to build an old people's home. Upon
the owner's failure to open negotiations the County Council decided to
make a Compulsory Purchase Order, subject to the Corporation's undertaking
to rehouse 15 permitted families from the site. This undertaking
was given and by May, 5 of the families had been rehoused and provision
of 10 dwellings was made in the revised allocation of Council dwellings
adopted by the Council in April. The families to be considered for rehousing
were:—
(a) Any family (other than those comprising husband and wife
only) who are living in a caravan at the North Lodge site and
have done so continuously since before the 12th September,
1952.
(b) Any other such family (other than husband and wife only) who
although having a shorter residence period than stipulated
above, are living in such conditions as warrant special consideration
being given on individual hardship grounds.
Notices were served under Section 345 of the Middlesex County
Council Act, 1944 on the occupants of three caravans who entered upon
the site in June, July and October, 1957, two being given not less than
six and not more than twelve months in which to move elsewhere. On
appeal, the magistrate dismissed one and adjourned the other case
sine die, the applicants being warned to obtain alternative accommodation
as soon as possible. At the end of the year there were 15 caravans on the
site.
Nuisance from Pigeons
Pigeons have been becoming a growing nuisance in certain parts of
the district. Large numbers congregate in certain localities, particularly
South Harrow, where perhaps the nuisance is greatest. Apart from the
fouling of the pavements, complaints are received from shopkeepers of
the fouling of the clothing of customers, and also of the entrances to food
shops. The trouble is added to by the practice of some persons feeding the
birds near shops. The Public Health Committee at their meeting in April
authorised action being taken. The greatest congregations of birds were
at the Gas Works in Northolt Road and the nearby railway arches which
seem to be the principal sites of roosting and brooding. Large numbers of
birds were removed from these two places. This procedure will probably
have to be carried out at regular intervals until such time, if ever, as these
places are protected with netting or in some such way to deprive the birds
of their ledges. Smaller numbers of pigeons frequent some other buildings
in the district, especially some of the churches.
The Public Health (London) Act, 1936 contains a clause under which
action can be taken to abate or mitigate any n uisance caused by the congregati°n
of house doves or pigeons. The Council decided to ask the Association
of Municipal Corporations to press for the inclusion in the pending Public
Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill of a clause to extend to authorities
outside the County of London the powers contained in this Section 121 of
the Public Health (London) Act which reads: For the purpose of abating