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CAM 47
Public Health Department,
Town Hall,
Camberwell, S.E.5.
August 4th, 1953.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell.
Mr. Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors,
I have the honour to present to you my Annual Report for
1952 which has been prepared in accordance with the terms of
Ministry of Health Circular No. 2/53, dated 22nd January, 1953.
There was no serious epidemic of infectious disease and the
health of the Borough maintained a satisfactory level. The
population, according to the Registrar-General's estimate for
mid-1952, showed a further increase of 1,700 over the estimated
figure for the previous year.
The general death rate showed a decrease from 13.5 in 1951
to 12.2 last year. There were also decreases in the infantile,
maternal and tuberculosis mortality rates; the infantile death
rate of 23.6 per thousand live births being the lowest ever
recorded in Camberwell.
The birth rate of 16.1 per 1,000 of the population was three
points lower than that for the previous year.
The housing situation continued to improve and most of
the war-damaged property in the Borough has now been repaired
and brought up to a reasonable condition for habitation. Some
of the older premises, however, give rise to considerable difficulties
as they are not repairable at a reasonable expense in view
of the high cost of building repairs. Is is not possible to use
extensively the powers conferred on the Council under Section 11
of the Housing Act, 1936, until suitable and sufficient alternative
accommodation is available for the tenants of the houses which
would be demolished by such action. Every effort is being made,
therefore, to keep these dwellings in a reasonable state of repair
by taking action under the Public Health (London) Act, 1936,
to ensure that serious nuisances, such as defective roofs, receive
attention.
By arrangement with the London County Council, slum
clearance operations were re-commenced during the year and
three areas comprising 26 houses were represented. These were
in addition to the Picton Street Clearance Area which is being
dealt with by the County Council.