London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Paddington 1951
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington, Metropolitan Borough of]
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SMOKE NUISANCE.—This important subject has for some years attracted much research and investigation and whilst
it is recognised that the pollution of the atmosphere by smoke is unhealthy and undesirable the difficulties of achieving
anything like immunity from this nuisance in Paddington, such as the types of buildings, the fuel situation, the excessive
costs of conversion to other means of heating, and many other problems too numerous to mention, mean that only a
minimum amount of success can at present be hoped for in this direction.
It will be realised that insistence on the installation of approved fuel burning appliances in new buildings, such
as those recommended by the National Smoke Abatement Society, is to be commended, and the Public Health
Committee have drawn the attention of the Housing (Special Delegations) and Building Licensing Committee to this
aspect with a view to that Committee considering the advisability of urging all appropriate applicants for licences to
instal approved fuel burning appliances where required by means of a leaflet issued by the National Smoke Abatement
Society.
Five (one) complaints regarding smoke nuisance were received during the year. An informal approach to the
owners concerned resulted in four nuisances being abated while one was still being dealt with at the end of the year.
Thirty-five (4) observations were made by the Inspectors.
PIGEONS.—Four (one) complaints were received relating to two areas. Section 121 of the Public Health (London)
Act, 1936, authorises the Council to destroy or cause to be destroyed any ownerless pigeons which are causing a nuisance.
Two persons have been authorised to destroy pigeons in the Borough. Anyone complaining of a nuisance from pigeons
is referred to these pigeon catchers who do their work without cost to the Council. Advice about measures which can
be taken to prevent the birds settling or nesting on the buildings is given by the Inspectors concerned.
FACTORIES.—
.Following is a table showing the work carried out during the year under the Factories Act, 1937.
| Premises | Number on Register | Number of | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inspections | Written notices | Occupiers prosecuted | ||
| (i) Factories in which Sections 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 are to be enforced by Local Authorities | 94 (115) | 36 (65) | 3 (7) | - (-) |
| (ii) Factories not included in (i) in which Section 7 is enforced by the Local Authority | 487 (498) | 249 (245) | 13 (33) | -(-) |
| (iii) Other Premises in which Section 7 is enforced by the Local Authority (excluding out-workers' premises) | 13 (8) | 9 (—) | - (-) | -(-) |
| TOTAL | 594 (621) | 294 (310) | 16 (40) | -(-) |
| Particulars of Defects | Number of cases in which defects were found | Number of cases in which prosecutions were instituted | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Found | Remedied | Referred | |||
| To H.M. Inspector | By H.M. Inspector | ||||
| Want of cleanliness (S.l) | 3 (1) | 3 (1) | - (—) | 3 (1) | -(-) |
| Overcrowding (S.2) | 1 (—) | 1 (-) | - (—) | -(—) | -(-) |
| Unreasonable temperature (S.3) | - (—) | -(—) | " (—) | -(-) | -(-) |
| Inadequate ventilation (S.4) | 1 (1) | - (1) | -(—) | -(-) | -(-) |
| Ineffective drainage of floors (S.6) | - (1) | - (1) | - (—) | - (—) | -(-) |
| Sanitary Conveniences (S.7) (a) Insufficient | 3 (4) | 2 (4) | - (—) | 3 (4) | -(-) |
| 27 (41) | 22 (37) | - (—) | 5 (7) | -(-) | |
| 5 (-) | 4 (-) | - (—) | 3 (-) | -(-) | |
| Other offences against the Act (not including offences relating to Outwork) | 7 (10) | 2 (7) | 5 (1) | - (—) | -(-) |
| TOTAL | 47 (58) | 34 (51) | 5 (1) | 14 (12) | -(-) |