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Water closets constructed or rebuilt 6
Water closets provided in substitution for dry receptacles, etc. —
Water closets where walls cleansed 13
Water closets fitted with new flushing apparatus 18
New pans or pedestals provided 22
Water closets repaired or improved 57
Water closets blockages unstopped 5
Other closets provided or repaired 1
Water closets connected to sewer and cesspools abolished —
Urinals constructed, rebuilt or repaired 6
Public Cleansing.—The cleansing of streets and the collection and disposal of refuse are carried
out under the control of the Borough Engineer. Refuse is disposed of by controlled tipping and the
collection of house refuse is carried out weekly. Through action by the Health Department, 54 new
dustbins were provided during 1953.
The following details of the salvage of waste materials have been provided by the Borough
Engineer:—
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
Paper (tons)
1,228
1,331
1,111
1,023
986
Scrap metal (tons)
102
80
78
89
84
Textiles (tons)
84
75
57
50
41
Bones (tons)
2
1
—
—
—
Bottles, jars (tons)
23
36
63
10
11
Cullet (tons)
12
6
4
7
—
Rubber (tons)
1
—
—
—
—
Kitchen Waste (tons)
1,074
1,013
1,032
929
822
Miscellaneous (tons)
—
—
—
—
—
£12,702
£14,426
£20,902
£15,614
£11,440
Sanitary Inspection of the Borough.—In addition to the work recorded in other paragraphs
of this Report, the Sanitary Inspectors continued their general duties of investigating complaints, abating
nuisances and dealing with contraventions of the Public Health Act. Originally, the sanitary inspector
was expected to exercise legal powers to improve environmental conditions. The legal powers and duties
remain, but today these officers are increasingly regarded more as advisors than as policemen. To give
good advice and to try to see that it is followed requires more tact, tenacity and time than to demand
that the law be obeyed—and often produces more lasting results.
Not all complaints brought to the Health Department deal with matters on which the Department
is empowered to take action, and in such cases complainants are advised, as far as is known, how and
where the matter may receive attention. Some particulars of the work done are shown below:—
Inspections following complaint 1,228
Number of premises at which nuisances, etc., were located 832
Number of premises where defects were remedied
(a) by owners or occupiers 751
(b) by Council in default 34
(c) public sewers repaired by Council 29
Informal notices issued 452
Written reminders issued 642
Statutory notices served 128
Total number of inspections and re-inspections 24,007
Inspections of piggeries 79
Inspections of stables 78
Inspections of urinals 109
Sinks provided or repaired 13
Roofs repaired 201
Gutters repaired or renewed 126
Brickwork, sills, etc., repaired or renewed 252
Premises provided with damp-proof courses 2
Sites covered with impervious material 11
Yards and forecourts paved or drained 18
External painting 26
Rooms stripped, cleansed and redecorated 437
Floors, walls and ceilings repaired or renewed 602
Rooms in which ventilation provided or improved 13
Rooms in which lighting provided or improved 13
Windows repaired or renewed 314
Doors and other woodwork repaired or renewed 53
Staircases replaced or repaired 17
Lighting to staircase provided or improved —
Handrails or balusters repaired or renewed 1
Grates provided or repaired 84
Wash coppers provided or repaired 2
Instances where ventilation under floor provided or improved 13
23