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OFFICES, SHOPS & RAILWAY PREMISES ACT, 1963
Introduction
The Borough covers an area of 7,115 acres between the south side of the River
Thames and Crystal Palace. The shape is approximately that of a triangle, the apex being
to the south. The estimated mid-year population was 293,120. Substantial redevelopment
schemes are under way and in the planning stages. The majority of commercial premises
are concentrated in the northern part of the district and included among these is a number
of large office blocks. Some premises which had remained empty for a number of years
and which were the subject of comment in a previous report were occupied during the
year by Government Departments.
Registrations and Inspections
New registrations were made of 252 premises, a small increase compared with the
previous year. The total of registered premises rose to 3,593, an annual increase of 234,
mainly of offices and retail shops. General inspections were made of 1,240 premises
(34.5%) while the total of all visits made to registered premises was 3,847. An analysis of
contraventions found and remedied following visits to the various classes of premises may
be found in Table D. The totals of contraventions found and remedied were 1,028 and
735 respectively, compared with 2,110 and 2,227 the year before. Written notices were
sent in respect of 122 premises and by the end of the year 77 of these notices had been
fully complied with. As in former years, verbal notices sufficed to bring about improvement
with regard to comparatively minor shortcomings.
The overall picture indicates that since the inception of the Act a steady improvement
in working conditions has taken place and that regular visits to registered premises
should go a long way towards ensuring that this improvement is maintained.
Inspections of premises continued to be made by the Public Health Inspectors and
Technical Assistants under supervision.
The statistical information required to be submitted annually to the Minister is reproduced
in Tables A, B and C.
Operation of the General Provisions of the Act
Cleanliness (Section 4)
A significant reduction was noted in reported contraventions compared with earlier
years despite extensive redevelopment and the air pollution which results from the large
volume of motor vehicle traffic to and from Central London which passes through the
Borough. It should be noted that deficiencies in catering premises are dealt with under
the Food Hygiene (General) Regulations 1960.
Overcrowding (Section 5)
Only 3 instances were reported. The Department is frequently consulted before
occupation of new premises and where changes of user occur. The majority of occupiers
and employees are aware of the requirements of the Act in this respect.
Temperature (Section 6)
Instances where inadequate heating was found showed a marked descrease over previous
years. Legal proceedings were however, instituted against a large multiple retail
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