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11
A ten per cent, random sample survey was made of two districts selected by the Clean Air Subcommittee,
and the Council then decided in December that their first smoke control area would be Neasden.
The size of the area is 48-5 acres and includes 618 domestic premises, 65 shops, one builder's office and
store, and a bakehouse. The Minister of Housing and Local Government is expected to give provisional
approval to the scheme early in 1958, and a detailed survey will then be commenced.
Two notifications of new boiler installations were received.
BOMBED SITES
The Health Department continues to deal with nuisances such as rats or refuse on the few remaining
bombed sites in the borough.
DISINFESTATION
The Public Health Inspectors inspect verminous premises and supervise the work of disinfestors
employed by the Council (section 83 of the Public Health Act, 1936) (Table 37). There was a slight
decrease in the work.
The Council provide transport for clothing and bedding requiring disinfection and disinfestation at
the Neasden Hospital (section 84 of the Public Health Act, 1936). The Council's attendant disinfects and
disinfests rooms and collects and delivers the clothing and bedding.
Temporary arrangements were made for bed linen to be treated at the Hendon Isolation Hospital
from the 11th November until the 4th December owing to alterations to the disinfecting plant at Neasden
Hospital.

The cost of disinfestation at business premises is recovered from the occupiers. 120 had an annual
agreement with the Council for regular inspection and disinfestation; 14 were new agreements and 106 were
renewals. The service is free to occupiers of private dwellings; the Borough Council recovers 50 per cent,
of the cost from the Ministry.
Rodent control in the Council's sewers is carried out by the Borough Engineer's Department. Where
surface rat infestation is due to faults in the connections of the house drains with the sewer, the Borough
Engineer's Department arranges for opening the pavement.
INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF FOOD AND FOOD PREMISES
All food premises in the borough are regularly inspected by the Public Health Inspectors (table 41).
Improvement in premises
The Food Hygiene Regulations, 1955, which came into operation on the 1st January, 1956, prescribed
standards for the preparation, storage and sale of clean food. There has been a marked improvement in
hygiene in the production and sale of food.
Public Health Inspectors visited food premises frequently and served verbal or written notices to
improve their standards. Works in some premises are still either in progress or arrangements are being made
for them to be carried out (tables 38, 42).
Premises where food is prepared
Premises which manufacture, store or sell ice-cream, or prepare or manufacture sausages, potted,
pressed, pickled or preserved foods, including cooked meat or fish intended for sale, must be registered by
the Council. If the Council refuses or cancels a registration, the owner can appeal first to them and if unsuccessful
to a court of summary jurisdiction (table 39).
Premises where ice cream is manufactured are kept under constant supervision. Most of the ice
cream sold in the borough is manufactured outside the district, and is usually pre-packed. The ice cream
reaches a high standard of purity (table 9).