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19
Rodent Control.
Block Control Scheme No. 1—Covent Garden Area.
This scheme, approved by the Ministry of Food, was started in February,
1947, and was completed in March, 1948. It covered the whole of that part
of the Borough which lies south of New Oxford Street and High Holborn and
west of Kingsway, and was carried out in conjunction with the Westminster
City Council, who dealt with part of their area adjoining the Borough. The
results exceeded expectations.
The work was carried out in three parts as follows:—
(1) The Survey.
This included the circularising of business firms; the inspection of all
premises; pre-baiting in any cases of doubt; and also included investigation of
bombed sites, derelict premises and empty buildings. The following figures
show approximately the work carried out:—
Total number of buildings 780
No. of business premises 980 } included in the
No. of dwellings 1,100 } 780 buildings.
No. of bombed sites and derelict buildings 70
Where information was obtained that service companies in rat repression
work had been or were engaged by the firms, contact was made, and the Council's
officers worked in close collaboration with representatives of the firms.
(2) Treatment.

At the same time as treatment was carried out advice was given, and firms
and property owners encouraged to carry out rat-proofing of premises.
(3) Re-survey.
This, the third stage, was completed in March, 1948, and comprised a survey
of all premises previously treated. The average time since treatment was