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XI
Sanitary Work and Buildings.
The number of plans submitted has again increased, to 1,087. The work arising
from town-planning applications qua construction of, and user of underground rooms
and questions as to ventilation, sanitary conveniences, etc. continue to demand
increasing attention. These town-planning aspects are a new development, intimately
related to public health.
Atmospheric Pollution.
Investigations have continued on lines already established. These include
estimation of deposited impurities, suspended impurities, sulphur gas content and
the destructive effects of sulphur gas. The details are set out in this report. It does
not appear that there is any marked improvement in the purity of the atmosphere
as compared with last year.
Food and Drugs.
Comment is made on certain articles of food deserving of special notice from
the point of view of adulteration and the Public Analysts have added their observations
in these and other matters relating to food adulteration. At the time of writing
the Council has been successful in both the Police Court and on appeal to Quarter
Sessions in maintaining that vinegar not manufactured from acetous fermentation
of grain and other natural substances should be clearly distinguishable by the
ordinary purchaser from vinegar prepared synthetically from acetic acid.
Housing.
The usual information as to housing activities is set out in tabular form on pages
103 to 105 as required by the Minister. This is the first occasion on which details
relating to overcrowding as required by the Housing Act of 1935 are included. The
policy of clearance and closure of unfit houses continues pari passu with the provision
of new housing accommodation. During the year 41 houses were demolished or
were the subject of confirmed clearance orders. Since the coming into force of
the clearance provisions of the Housing Act of 1930 the London County Council
has not itself made any clearance resolutions as regards the City of Westminster.
The City Council with the assent of the former has been responsible for all the procedure
relating to clearance areas. Basement and other rooms numbering 567 have
been closed or reconditioned and re-occupied. This great work of improvement
and restoration in buildings otherwise structurally sound has proceeded smoothly
and in the vast majority of cases with the complete co-operation of the owners.
New Maternity and Child Welfare Building.
This building, fully described in the last two annual reports, is approaching
completion and will be formally opened in the autumn of the present year. The
welfare centre on the ground floor will be the largest in the City and as regards planning
and equipment will be one of the most up-to-date in the country. The Day
Nursery occupying two upper floors and part of the top floor, will be in the charge
of a voluntary committee to whom the Council will grant a tenancy of the nursery
premises. The accommodation for 80-90 children has been specially planned with
a view to separating the different age groups of children, thereby minimising the
risk of infection. Labour-saving devices will be evident throughout the building.