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182
SECTION VI
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
Despite the many improvements in the scientific and social fields,
man is still exposed to a multiplicity of influences which, unless
controlled, could nullify present and all future advances.
Many of these factors fall into the category of "environmental"
such as air, soil and water pollution; urbanisation with its constant
threat of overcrowding, squalor, disease, interminable and unrelenting noise and social maladjustment; food additives, pesticides
radioactive residues, population problems, etc.
Certainly recent progress in the sphere of medicine has added
years to life but this is of little value if we merely add quantity but
not quality to living. Health is man's most precious possession
and our environmental health services have played and will continue to play a most important part in its promotion and
conservation. A measure of the effectiveness of these services will
be found in the extent to which they have added "quality" to life.
Outlined in this section are the efforts made by the department
during 1967 to maintain and improve the high standards already
achieved.
New Legislation
Greater London Council (General Powers) Act, 1967
The promotion of this Act was referred to in the previous
Annual Report. The Act provides, inter alia, powers which, apart
from some minor amendments, restore legislation previously contained in the London County Council (General Powers) Acts, 1954
and 1955, and enforceable by the former Metropolitan Borough
Councils. They concern the registration of hairdressers and barbers,
the abatement of urgent nuisances in defective premises and the
reinstatement of interrupted water supplies.
This Council has fixed 1st June, 1968, as the appointed day as
from which, subject to the proviso in Section 21 (1), it will be an
offence for any person to carry on the business of a hairdresser or
barber on any premises in the Borough unless he is registered in
respect of those premises by the Council.