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67
Rag Flock and other Filling Materials Act, 1951
Under the provisions of this Act, various types of premises concerned
with the upholstery trade or with the provision of materials for that trade
must be registered or licensed with the local authority.
At the end of the year, seven premises were on the register; one
licence was issued for the use of premises for storage purposes.
Noise Nuisance
Complaints received 86
Investigations made 145
Notices served 7
During 1962, complaints were received of noise caused by the
following:—
Compressors, pneumatic drills, steam hammers; a hoist and a
cement mixer at a building site; road operations; delivery lorries;
ventilating machinery and refrigeration plant; loud-speakers;
music, singing and dancing in a dance hall; radios; fighting, screaming
and shouting in a club; taxi-drivers, Covent Garden porters,
workmen, and milkmen; howling dogs, and noisy tenants. Noise
caused by cars arriving at and subsequently leaving a club gave
rise to many complaints from neighbouring tenants.
Powers to deal with noise nuisance are contained in the Public Health
(London) Act, 1936, the London County Council (General Powers) Act,
1937, the Noise Abatement Act, 1960, and byelaws relating to Good
Rule and Government. Previously some of these powers had been
delegated by the Council to the Public Health Committee and some to
the General Purposes Committee.
During 1961 it was agreed that, to facilitate investigation and enforcement
of remedies, and to simplify administration, all the Council's powers
relating to the abatement of noise should be delegated to the Public
Health Committee.
In a built-up area, large-scale demolition and building operations,
such as those being undertaken at several sites in Westminster, must
inevitably result in noise and annoyance being caused to residents of
neighbouring dwellings, offices and shops. Although it was not necessary
for statutory action to be taken during 1962 in regard to these matters,
there were several occasions on which strong warnings had to be given
to contractors, reminding them of their duty to carry out their operations
with the minimum amount of noise and annoyance consistent with their
activities.