View report page

SANITARY INSPECTION.
No. of complaints received 1,945
Inspections under Shops Act, 1934 259
" " Pharmacy and Poisons Act, 1933. 143
" " Milkshops 148
Factories Act, 1937 :-
No. of inspections of Factories 21
" " " " Outworkers Premises -
Intimations served 1
No. of Intimations, P.H. (London) Act, 1936 1,263
" " Statutory Notices 306
" " Reinspections (all Enactments) 3,731
Total number of visits 14,282
WATER SUPPLY.
No complaints were made to the Public Health Department as to the
purity of the water supply provided by the Metropolitan Water Board.
All houses in Gamberwell receive a direct supply.
RODENT CONTROL SCHEME.
A comprehensive scheme was launched in the early part of the year
to deal with the rat infestation of the Borough. The preliminary work
of obtaining and training staff for the surface treatment of the
Borough on "Block Control" lines as advocated by the Ministry of Food
commenced in December, 1943.
A separate Office at the Camberwell Municipal Baths, a bait preparing
room and a stores building adjoining the Baths were provided
for the purposes of the Scheme
One of the Council's Sanitary Inspectors was appointed as Rodent
Officer who devotes the whole of his time to the duties arising from
the investigation of complaints and the organisation of the work of
surface treatment of the Borough. Co-operation was maintained with the
Borough Engineer's Department to ensure the treatment of sewers when
"Block" treatments were in progress. To assist the Rodent Officer a
staff of 3 clerical assistants, 3 investigators and 8 operators were
engaged.
The Borough was divided into 38 areas and 10 special areas were
formed. During the year 320 surveys and inspections were made by the
Rodent Officer, 18,240 calls were made by the Investigators and 11,878
visits were paid by the Operators. The number of baits laid was 20,929
and traps were set whore necessary. At the end of the year 21 areas
had been treated and 3 were in the course of treatment.
In conformity with the Ministry of Food directions the initial
treatment of sewers in the Borough was followed in February by a
second treatment.
There were 614 complaints received during the year at the Public
Health Department of the presence of rats at premises in the Borough
which received attention.
As a result of Fly-bomb raids in the summer months the work of the
Scheme was slowed down by the withdrawal of the majority of the staff
for duties connected with rehousing of bombed-out families and furniture
storage.