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SHOPS ACT,1950.
(a) Sunday Trading.
A request was received from certain "back street" traders
for the Council to make a Partial Exemption Order permitting the
sale of bread, groceries etc. on Sunday mornings .
After going through the proper formalities and hearing
numerous objections the Council decided to make an Order known as
The Surbiton (Alpha Road Area) (Sunday Hours of Opening) Order,
1952, which permits shops in the locality defined to sell bread
and flour confectionery including rolls and fancy bread, groceries,
and other provisions commonly sold in grocers shops on Sunday
mornings not later than ten o'clock.
(b) Hairdressers.
An application was received from a number of hairdressers
for the substitution of later evening closing hours in accordance
with the provisions of Section 2 of the Act. The reason given
for the application was "with a view to alleviating the difficulties
which will be occasioned to the hairdressing trade by the proposed
cuts in the electricity supply".
After inviting the observations of interested parties the
Council decided not to make an Order amending closing hours in view
of the divided views of the various hairdressers and organisations
concerned.
MOVEABLE DWELLINGS.
Twenty-five licences to station and use moveable dwellings
(caravans) were granted during the year. Twelve of the caravans
are standing on the Riverhill Estate which has been leased to a
local Sports Club where a colony of such dwellings is being
developed on attractive lines. The remainder are stationed on
odd sites throughout the Borough.
All are in permanent use and in all probability would not
exist at all but for the housing shortage. They are generally
well maintained by the occupiers and have never been the subject
of complaint by anyone. Those who live in them are well satisfied
with life under such conditions in preference to living in "rooms",
and there is no doubt that the modern caravan provides a very
comfortable home for a small family.
The policy of the Council is to grant Individual licences
annually so that strict control is exercised.
There is one site in the Borough on which some unlicensed
caravans are parked which is receiving consideration.
Many enquiries are received about camping sites, but the
Prohibition Orders obtained by the Council under the Surrey
County Council Acts have almost sterilised the country parts of'
the Borough for use in this way. This is probably a good thing
because I feel there are limits to the number of dwellings of
this type which could be accommodated in a Borough such as this
without causing trouble of some kind, particularly as control
under town planning and public health legislation is not too
effective.
Most of the caravanists are actual or potential housing
applicants and to open up more camping sites would undoubtedly
attract people from other districts who would swell the waiting
list for houses.
32.