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17
Legal proceedings
The summary of legal proceedings undertaken during 1970 is set out in Table 25, page 75.
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 twenty (257) complaints
of noise were received during the year under review, and this necessitated 828 (1,117) visits 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, 1,944 (1,326) Notices of Execution of Drainage Works were
registered, and a total of 12,051 (13,017) visits to sites and to premises were made in connection
with these notices. Of the proposals to do work, which required the specialist knowledge and
attention of the Development Team of four public health inspectors, 275 (262) related to large scale
development and 130 (68) concerned new buildings. The number of houses and flats constructed
by private enterprise was 467 (195), and at the end of the year 998 (928) housing units exclusive of
municipal development were in various stages of construction.
There was a marked increase in the work of this section relating to hotels; 19 new premises were
completed and 32 were under construction at the end of the year. In addition, 20 premises were
being modernised to provide "en suite" bathrooms, and in some cases the premises were modernised
to provide enlarged kitchens and restaurants.
Phase I of the new School for American Nationals has been completed and is in occupation.
Phase II, which will complete this development, was well in hand at the end of 1970.
Interdepartmental collaboration between officers of Government Departments, Greater London
Council and the City Council, having related responsibilities, continues to ensure that the fullest
information is available to all applicants in respect of new projects.
Sewerage
Incidents of flooding occurred, due to storm water resurgence, on 7th August, 1970, in the
Westbourne Grove area. The Paddington Chamber of Commerce has since made an approach to
both the Greater London Council and the City Council with a view to remedial works being carried
out, and this matter is under consideration.
Town Planning
Observations were made by the Department on 93 (103) 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. (up to and including 28th September).
Westminster Council House Extension, Upper Montagu Street, W.1. (from 29th September).
Paddington Office, 313 Harrow Road, W.9.