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24
New Accommodation.
During the year the Council completed fifty new flats as set
out below.
Wheatfield House 8 flats
Clifford Court 20 flats
St. Luke's Court 10 flats
Aldridge Court 12 flats
Housing Accommodation: Preferential Treatment.
During the year 216 (167) medical certificates were referred to
me by the Borough Director of Housing for " pointing." Points are
awarded for certified ill-health, and if the applicant's health is
affected by his living conditions the Public Health Inspector
investigates the adverse conditions and in many instances is able to
get them remedied.
Land Charges Act, 1925.
This Act provides for the maintenance of a Register of Local
Land Charges in which are registered statutory charges including
closing and demolition orders made by the Council under the
Housing Acts. Solicitors and others making a search in this Register
almost invariably submit supplementary questions about various
matters of concern to the Public Health Department. These include
slum clearance areas, statutory notices under the Public Health
(London) Act, 1936, and the Housing Acts, certificates of disrepair
under the Rent Act, 1957, and the implementation of the provisions
of the Clean Air Act, 1956, in the Borough.
Some 1,769 (1,530) enquiries on these matters received the
attention of the Department during the year.
SAFETY IN THE HOME.—Towards the end of 1957 matters
relating to safety in the home were referred to the Public Health
Committee. During 1958 pamphlets were distributed and posters
exhibited drawing attention to the more common causes of accidents
in the home and there was a Home Safety Campaign week in
November for the public generally.
Earlier in the year however leaflets were issued through Post
Offices and by organisations such as the Women's Voluntary Services
drawing the attention of old people in particular to dangers in the
home. The North Thames Gas Board were also supplied with the
names and addresses of about 350 elderly people from the department's
records and these were visited by Gas Board officials who
arranged if necessary for adjustments to be made to meters, gas taps
and connections with a view to minimising the risk of accidents.
The Public Health Department also keeps a small supply of
fireguards and these are loaned to old people without charge on
the recommendation of the Visitors.
Both the Visitors and the Public Health Inspectors take the
opportunities afforded by their work to make the public more home
safety conscious by personal advice.