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19
Dwelling houses
General inspection of dwelling houses arising from complaints and for routine purposes, as
distinct from duties under the Housing Acts and other specialised functions dealt with later in this
Report, are undertaken by the district inspectors. An analysis of reasons for initial inspections of
dwelling houses is given in Table 8, page 70, and an analysis of 2,327 (3,450) nuisances and unsatisfactory
conditions found and remedied appears in Table 9, page 70.
Notices
Six hundred and forty six (1,220) informal notices, and 629 (830) statutory notices were served
in 1969 to secure the abatement of nuisances. In addition 35 (36) notices were served under the
Clean Air Act, 1956.
An analysis of statutory notices served is given in Table 11, page 71.
Legal proceedings
A summary of legal proceedings undertaken during 1969 is set out in Table 27, page 79.
Noise
All complaints of noise made to the Health Department are investigated. Not all can be substantiated,
but where nuisances are established, a large majority of them are abated or the offending
noise reduced to a reasonable level by persuasive action. Two hundred and fifty seven (252)
complaints of noise were received during the year under review and these necessitated 1,117 visits
(1,141) by public health inspectors. Many of the complaints continued to relate to noise occurring
late at night or at weekends and investigations outside normal office hours were necessary.
Drainage and New Developments
During the year under review 1,326 (1,082) Notices of Execution of Drainage Works were
registered, and a total of 13,017 (12,024) visits to sites and to premises were made in connection
with these notices. Of the proposals to do work, 262 Notices related to large scale developments and
works requiring specialist knowledge and attention (which comes within the purview of the
Developments' Team of 4 inspectors) and 68 (61) concerned new buildings.
The number of houses and flats constructed by private enterprise was 195 (423), but in addition to
this figure 434 (nil) flats built under the auspices of the Central London Housing Trust for the Aged
also reached completion during the year. At the end of the year 928 (744) housing units, exclusive
of municipal developments, were in various stages of construction.
New educational establishments referred to in previous reports were nearing completion, and it is
expected that these will be occupied during the course of the coming year. A new school for the
children of American Nationals is in course of construction in St. John's Wood, and will replace the
presently used premises at York Terrace East.
Sewerage
No reports of flooding from surcharged sewers were received and the officers continue to work in
close collaboration with those of the City Engineer's Department in endeavouring to ensure that, in
new buildings, no sewer connections are made which would make the buildings liable to flooding
by surcharge.
Town Planning
Observations were made by the Department on 103 (70) plans submitted to the Council under
the Town and Country Planning Acts, 1962/1968.
Clean Air
Daily volumetric measurements of smoke and sulphur dioxide were taken at stations situated at the
following premises:
Anson House, Churchill Gardens, S.W.1.
Monck Street Depot, S.W.1.
London College of Fashion, Holies Street, W.1.
Rutherford School, Penfold Street, N.W.8.
Paddington Office, 313 Harrow Road, W.9.