[Report 1955] / Medical Officer of Health, Cheltenham Borough.

  • Cheltenham (England). Borough Council.
Date:
1955
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1955] / Medical Officer of Health, Cheltenham Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    61/70 (page 57)
    SHOPS ACT, 1950 The operation of this Act as regards Closing Hours and Sunday Tradmg was the subject of a special report to the Market and Watch Committee towards the end of the j^ear. These duties wem originally taken over by this department on 1st January, 1951. During the first twelve months frequent contraventions of the Act were noted and many local shopkeepers were found to be Ignorant of its provisions. It must be admitted that the Act is extremely complex ; the closing hours being subject to numerous exemptions for various trades and businesses whether in regard to the early half day evenmg closing hours or Sunday trading. A great deal of time has been spent by the Inspectors in advising traders of their obligations and aU contraventions have been followed up by a warning letter together with an explanatory guide to the Act. After five year s activities on these lines the great majority of traders m the town are complying with the provisions of the Act. difficulty has been experienced with shops holding an Off Licence which are entitled to stay open till 10 p.m. for the sale of mtoxicating liquor. In these days of keen competition a trader may be tempted to sell other articles at the same time as alcoholic liquor, the sale of which is prohibited after 8 p.m., and if a customer should connive with the shopkeeper, detection of such contraventions is difficult. Never- theless, the necessary evidence of such a sale was obtained in one case so that a strong warning letter could be sent. Sunday trading has necessitated many visits by Inspectors. The Law in this case is particularly complex and Court decisions have not been of much assistance. Certain garages did advertise that they were open seven days a week for the sale of cars and in consequence, aU such usinesses were visited and advised that the sale of a car on Sunday was an illegal transaction. These visits had the desired effect. A number of obsolete Closing Orders made 40 or 50 years ago are still m force. Many of these contravene the spirit of the 1950 Act and are a source of much confusion to the shopkeepers.