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character. In the former case, unless informal action by the
Inspector results in abatement, procedure follows, by statute, a set
pattern. The Sanitary Inspector must report the facts brought to
light by his investigation to the Local Authority, in order to obtain
approval for the service of an Abatement Notice, and, if necessary
the institution of legal proceedings. This Notice is served on the
person or persons identified as being responsible for the nuisance
arising or continuing, and describes the nuisance, stating the
remedy required; it must not specify the actual method of remedy
and, in the majority of cases, must not identify the materials to be
used. Sufficient time for abatement, having regard to the nature of
the nuisance, and its remedy, must be allowed by the Notice. Noncompliance
is followed by the laying of information before a Justice
of the Peace, who may, at a subsequent hearing, order the work to
be done within a period stated by the Court. The time taken to
reach this latter phase can be considerable. It is unavoidable
This fact is not always appreciated by an irate complainant, who
wonders when the Council are "going to do something." The
machinery of the law is slow, and when a member of the public
seeks to right a wrong by complaint to a local authority, he or she
very definitely " goes to law."
It reflects great credit upon those who are responsible, ofter
without knowledge, for the occurrence or continuance of a nuisance,
that this lengthy and tedious procedure is not necessary in the
majority of cases. Entirely informal intimation, without statutory
background, given by the Sanitary Inspector, frequently results in
the remedy of the nuisance without further ado.
The work arising from the lodging of complaints occupies a
large proportion of the Sanitary Inspector's time, and is now made
more difficult by the shortage of labour and materials.
During 1945, in Beckenham, 1,440 complaints of one sort or
another were reported to the Public Health Department. The
majority proved to be of a justifiable character. Some complaints
are made anonymously, and it is well to know that these receive the
same full investigation applied to others.
Nuisances of a similar character are a constant source of com
plaint throughout the year.
CHOKED DRAINS.
352 complaints were received of choked drains. Choked drain
are cleared by Council employees in most instances, and, where
necessary, a charge is made for the service.
STRUCTURAL DEFECTS.
315 complaints related to various external and internal structural
defects, giving rise to instances of statutory nuisances in
dwelling houses.
DRY ROT.
39 instances of dry rot were reported—an increase on previous
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