View report page

226
Stimulated by the "smog" tragedy of 1952, the Beaver
Report on atmospheric pollution was published in November,
1954, indicating the cost to the nation in terms of death and
physical disability as well as financial loss in this poisoning of
the air. Much of the original work by the D.S.I.R. which became
the basis of the future Clean Air Act was carried out at Greenwich. Increase in lung cancer was most marked and was the
subject of strong comment in the 1954 report.
After much prompting by the Metropolitan Borough
Councils and in an effort to improve the hygiene of persons and
premises, an L.C.C. (General Powers) Act of 1954, laid down
that no person was to be permitted to engage in the business of
hairdresser or barber in the Borough unless he and the premises
were registered with the Health Department.
Baths for the elderly, at home and at the Bathing Centre,
were introduced and an incontinent laundry service was established to deal with soiled articles from bedridden aged persons.
Arrangements were also made with voluntary organisations for
the repair and replacement of bedding and clothing. The Greenwich Old People's Welfare Association, with financial and
practical assistance from the Council, was formed in July, 1954,
for the express purpose of promoting the well-being of all
elderly residents in the Borough.
During 1955, in accordance with the Housing Repairs and
Rent Act, 1954, a complete survey of the Borough was undertaken to ascertain the number of unfit houses with a view to
their clearance either by the County or Borough Council. More
efficient control by local authorities over food and food establishments
was given by the Food and Drugs Act of 1955 with
its associated Hygiene Regulations. With the co-operation of
the staff of the Fuel Research Station, apparatus for measuring
atmospheric pollution was set up at Charlton House and the
Town Hall.
Greater powers over the causes of the emission of smoke,
grit and dust were given to local authorities with the introduction of the Clean Air Act, 1956, and the new legislation enabled
the Council to establish smoke control areas to free the atmosphere
of dangerous pollutants.
As a riparian authority Greenwich receives substantial food
imports from many parts of the world and increasing importations
of egg albumen were causing concern by reasons of the
frequency of salmonella and paratyphoid "B" organisms