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SWIMMING BATHS:
(i) The Council maintains two establishments, one in Merlin Street
and one in Ironmonger Row, both of which provide in addition, to a
large indoor warmed swimming pool, slipper baths and facilities for
the washing of clothes That in Ironmonger Row is particularly well
equipped in every way, and contains a Turkish Bath section. There is
in addition at this establishment, a special childrens pool of limited
dimensions and even depth This pool is not greatly used except at
fortnightly intervals when a club consisting of members interested in
helping spastics and cured cases of poliomyelitis, helps them to
recover some degree of movement and to enjoy the freedom possible for
them when in water. The pool is specially heated on these occasions,
and a very valuable service is rendered in this way. The water is
circulated, filtered and chlorinated.
Apart from careful day to day control of chlorination by the
Baths Superintendent, the regular examination of the water has been
carried out by the Laboratory Technician The results have uniformly
shown a satisfactory degree of alkalinity and of free chlorine and the
sample to be sterile
The laundry at the Ironmonger Row establishment where persons may
undertake their own washing, was renovated and re-equipped during 1960
to form a very excellent department on modern lines, and is now of a
very high standard.
(ii) There is an indoor swimming pool open to the public during
the summer months at Northampton College The water here is circulated,
filtered and chlorinated but the plant in use is somewhat out of date,
and detailed control has from time to time been somewhat difficult.
Regular chemical control is maintained by the College authorities
Chemical and bacteriological examinations have also been made from
time to time by the Laboratory Technician none of which have given
rise however, to concern though the alkalinity and amount of free
chlorine have occasionally been found to be low and complete sterility
not maintained.
SANITARY CONDITIONS
I am happy to be able to report that there has been a continuing
improvement during the past 5 years of the prevailing environmental
conditions in the homes of the residents This has been consequent
for a large part on the disappearance of many of the slum properties
It has reflected a diminishing number of complaints made to the department
from 1,680 in 1956 to 920 in 1960. In spite of a deficiency in
the establishment of Public Health Inspectors it has been possible to
investigate all complaints and when these have appeared urgent,without
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