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(39)
DRAINAGE OF NEW BUILDINGS
and
RECONSTRUCTION OF DRAINAGE
Additions to existing buildings or additional
sanitary accommodation 44
Reconstruction of drainage systems 7
Rebuilding of premises demolished by enemy
action 12
New buildings 14
Total agreed applications for approval
of plans 77
PREVENTION OF DAMAGE BY PESTS ACT. 194.9.
The Council's Rodent Repression Service maintained its campaign
against rodents during the year.
The number of notifications received by the department, of the
existence of rat or mice infestations during the year, totalled 896,
an increase of 242 on the figure for last year. This fact is indicative
that the public are fully aware of their responsibilities in reporting
the presence of rodents. In addition to those premises from which
notifications were received, 255 other premises were inspected by the
Rodent Operators. Investigation of complaints and visits for subsequent
treatment of premises found to be infested necessitated 7,175
visits by the staff.
Mice infestations were rather more than rat infestations, the
figures being 472 and 342 respectively. A total of 107 business
premises were treated for infestations, 45 for rats and 62 for mice.
As during the previous year a number of defective outlet drains
were discovered as a direct result of investigations of rat infestations
and these were repaired and the cost of so doing was met by the owners
of the premises concerned. In accordance with the requirements of the
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, and with the co-operation of the
Borough Surveyor, two treatments of the public sewers were carried out
during the year. Comparison of the bait takes during these treatments
with the treatments last year again indicate that the rat population
of the sewers is apparently being held in check.