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10
The low-lying ground adjoining this stream just where it
enters this Borough is now being filled in with house refuse and
road scrapings.
The chief occupations of the inhabitants, and the influence of
any particular occupation on Public Health.
A large number of men are employed in printing works, and
women are engaged in laundry work and in bottling beer and
mineral waters. A considerable number of workers are employed
outside the Borough, either in London or in the wealthier districts
adjoining Kingston. There is no employment directly affecting
Public Health.
House accommodation, especially for the working classes.—
Adequacy and fitness for habitation.—Sufficiency of open space
about houses, and cleanliness of snrroundings.—Supervision
over erection of new houses.—Action under the Housing of the
Working Classes Act.
The town is chiefly a working class town. The houses are
generally of good character, but a few houses built about the
middle of the last century are unsatisfactory. These are now being
inspected and the owners called upon to make good defects.
There is no closeness of air space round buildings except in
the business neighbourhood of the Market Place.
Pavement round the backs of houses is being introduced, and
there will be little to complain of as regards cleanliness of
surroundings when this is complete. Streets are now being treated
with impervious in varied forms of "pitch grout." There is good
supervision over new houses, no new house being certified for
occupation till the requirements of the By-laws have been complied
with, but there is not much building work in progress now.