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7
lations became effective in 1962 and a good deal of attention was then
given to this problem, which is one of considerable magnitude particularly
in large towns, and it is likely that in London it is proportionally as
large if not larger than elsewhere. The extent of the problem in Battersea,
although it was thought to be quite considerable, was not exactly known,
and it was felt desirable, as a preliminary, to ascertain as far as possible
what exactly was its extent. A limited survey was, therefore, undertaken.
One area of the Borough was selected where it was thought that
the problem might be most acute and each property in this area, in all
about 130 houses, was carefully inspected and certain facts and data
collected. The main points of interest are to be found in the body of
the report and little further comment is needed here since full accounts
were given to the Housing Committee. In general the conditions found
were better than might have been expected ; for instance there was very
little "squalor", although squalor is not defined in the legislation and
is subject to some differences of interpretation. It was not thought that
many Management Orders would be necessary and that the best way
to deal with the properties in this particular area would be by the service
of Notice to make good any defects of the property and to require the
provision of sanitary accommodation and other necessary facilities
where this is possible, without causing the displacement of any family.
It is Proposed, too, to use that section of the Act which enables the
Council to put a limit on the number of persons that are permitted to
occupy the Premises, having in mind the facilities available in such
premises. In other words, it was apparent from this survey that there
is no short term answer to this problem and that it must be dealt with
as a long term and deliberate Public Health measure. This is the procedure
which is being followed although, as I have indicated earlier, it is
likely to be handicapped by the shortage of Public Health Inspectors.
The work in connection with smoke control continued in 1962 and
the Council's No. 2 Smoke Control Order covering 237 acres and 2,000
premises became operative in May. The No. 3 Smoke Control Order
was declared in june, 1962, and confirmed by the Minister in October,
the operative date being from 1st July, 1963. The work of inspection
is now Proceeding on the No. 4 Area. Again this year I have included
a map of the Borough showing the extent of the Smoke Control Areas
already in operation and those proposed.
In December, 1962, a very severe smog was experienced in the London
Area almost exactly 10 years after the notorious fog of 1952, and this
provided an opportunity of comparing the smog of 1962 with that of a
decade earlier. Although personal impressions are unreliable, a number
of people confirmed my own opinion that although there was no difference
as regards density of the two smogs, in 1962 the irritation caused to
the eyes and throat after being out in the fog for any length of time
appeared to be less. It is not possible to confirm these impressions
statistically because the smoke recording station was not in operation
in 1952.A recent report covering the Administrative County of London
shows that the amount of smoke recorded in 1962 was considerably less
than the amount recorded in 1952. Although there was some reduction
in the concentration of sulphur dioxide, this was not as marked as the
reduction of the amount of smoke.
The song of 1952, it will be remembered, was associated with a
heavy mortality particularly amongst elderly people and it was feared
that the same pattern of mortality might follow in 1962. Happily this