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21
Gardens
Willesden is poorly equipped with public open spaces, 242 acres compared with an estimated need
of 1,313 acres; yet one in four families have no garden at all, and a large number have to share a garden.

SANITARY SECTION
Staff
The authorised establishment' of sanitary inspectors is one Chief Sanitary Inspector, one Deputy
Chief Sanitary Inspector, 17 district Sanitary Inspectors and 5 Pupil Sanitary Inspectors.
Three sanitary inspectors resigned in 1953, and at the end of the year it had not been possible to
fill the vacancies; 4 pupil sanitary inspectors were on the staff in 1953.
The Rodent Officer and three operatives were employed in the destruction of rats and mice on bomb
sites and waste-lands and in dwelling houses, factories and other industrial buildings. Two labourers
were employed on vermin disinfestation, drain-testing, and general duties.
Sanitary Inspection of the Area
The main problem is to try and preserve property which will deteriorate into slums if neglected
and then most likely require demolition; many tenants inform the Public Health Department only when
the defects are advanced and costly to remedy.
In November, 1951, the Council decided to organise a house-to-house survey in selected areas to
discover defects early before they deteriorated or caused extensive damage and so cost much more to repair.
For instance, to remedy defective roofs or gutterspouts promptly is much cheaper than leaving them to
cause dampness and damage to walls and rooms.
A preliminary survey was made to determine the first area to receive attention, and on 14th
February, 1952, four sanitary inspectors started the survey in selected roads in the Willesden Green ward.
The Council served notices for remedying defects under the Public Health Act, 1936, or the Housing Act,
1936. As many as eight out of ten houses required some action which resulted in much preventive work
being done (table 1). The main criterion in drawing up schedules of repairs was to prevent houses deteriorating;
this is clearly indicated in the attention paid to windows, roofs, gutters and downspouts (table 2).
Some repairs which normally would have been included in a regular house-to-house inspection were consequently
omitted.
The owners did not exactly welcome the sanitary inspectors with open arms, but most of them
appreciated that the repair work was essential and that their properties were receiving necessary improvements
which would save heavy repair bills in the future. Nineteen landlords carried out the work without
notices being served, and 12 on intimation notices alone (table 3).
Most owners carried out the repairs without any difficulty. Nineteen (involving 65 houses)
appealed against the notices, but the majority of them came to an agreement on a modified schedule of repairs.
Ten cases were taken to Court: 4 struck out (received out of time), 2 withdrawn, 1 arbitration (adjourned
generally) 1 dismissed by Court of Appeal, 2 agreement reached in Court and adjourned generally. At the
end of the year 1 case was awaiting hearing in Court. Work has now been completed on most of the notices
(table 4).