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Late in 1972 there was reason to believe that the majority of traders operating in the Uxbridge
Town Centre wished to trade for six days. A postal vote was arranged and the majority of the traders
carrying on food businesses and the majority of those selling goods other than food preferred not
to close their shop for half day. This does not affect the assistants' entitlement to a half day holiday
on one week day a week but does permit the shop to remain open and the assistants to be given
half holidays on different days. An order permitting persons operating shops in these classes of
trades to remain open for six days of the week will be made by the Council to become operative
early in 1973.
The Sunday trading restrictions have again caused difficulty, due to the continued operation
of a Sunday market on the car park of the Hayes Football Club and to some Sunday trading by local
shopkeepers, mainly those selling "Do it yourself" articles, for which there is apparently a public
demand. In all, 83 summonses were taken against offenders, 14 in respect of local shopkeepers,
one occupier being prosecuted on three separate occasions and 69 against stallholders operating
from the market. Nine of the summonses against stallholders were for obstruction, one was dismissed,
the remainder fined from £3-£10. Six of the summonses alleging illegal sales were dismissed and
the remaining 54 fined. The fines imposed were £3 with £1 costs. One case against a local shopkeeper
arose from premises where purchasers in order to circumvent the law were becoming "club"
members. The seriousness or otherwise accorded to offences against the Sunday trading provisions
by the local magistrates may be judged by the fines imposed, in this case the fine was £1 with no
costs. Recently the law has been changed to increase the maximum fine that may be imposed,
indicating the Government have no intention of legalising all Sunday trading. However the fines
imposed have rarely been to the previous maximum so this is unlikely to affect the local position.
Unless effective action can be taken against the market organisers or the local organisation offering
facilities and space for the market, the Sunday market will continue to operate. It should be realised
that this market causes considerable inconvenience to nearby residents and that other factors in
addition to infringements of the Sunday trading provisions of the Shops Act should be considered
when deciding whether or not a market is desirable, even if these are not factors, which may be
considered by magistrates when dealing with particular cases.
AGRICULTURAL (SAFETY HEALTH & WELFARE) PROVISIONS ACT 1965
There are 97 agricultural units in the Borough. As in the case of factories when inspections are
made under the specific legislation attention is also paid to other matters such as drainage, manure
storage, rodent control etc. No statutory action was necessary to enforce this Act.
NOISE
Noise complaints continue to increase and 135 complaints, approximately 10% more than the
previous year, were received. Twenty-five years ago it was possible to relate noise very closely to
"the activity of a town". On the average weekday from midnight to midnight there would have been
little movement until 5 a.m. then possibly some early risers and the activity would have gradually
increased to a peak at about 9 a.m. would then level off until about 4 p.m. when there would have
been a decline continuing until about 6 p.m. reducing still further with some minor peaks as people
returned from the evening social activities and from about 11 o'clock onwards would reduce to
meet the midnight level at the start of the period. This correlation between noise and activity is still
relatively true but modern affluence and technology have increased the level of noise. On the domestic
front to the vacuum cleaner has been added the washing machine, the refrigerator, the deep freeze,
the food mixer and the central heating pump and boiler. The use of public transport has declined
and the motor car offers door to door transport and noise. Modern technology has created many
tools which are capable of complex and multiple undertakings with minimum supervision. They are
however costly to produce, quickly become obsolete and therefore tend to be used continuously.
This continuous use has somewhat changed the former pattern of activity and people are increasingly
having to change their way of life and adapt to a 7 day, 24 hour working period; for many people a
Sunday is now another weekday. If the noise climate is to be contained and reduced it will be necessary
for people to decide what levels are acceptable and what sacrifices they are prepared to make.
For example it may be agreed that an Englishman's home is his castle but does this mean he may
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