View report page

4 REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH FOR 1957
Air Act, particularly the establishment of Smoke Control Areas.
There were many difficulties to be overcome, particularly in view of
our shortage of inspectorial staff in the Health Department, but I am
happy to say that the greatest help and co-operation was received
from other departments of the Council. So far as the establishment of
Smoke Control Areas is concerned, it can be said that the work was
a combined effort, particularly with the Town Clerk's Department.
The end result has been that at the end of the year much headway had
been made in the establishment of a smoke control area. At the time
of writing, the Council has made its first Order, the Public Enquiry
by the Minister has been held and we are now awaiting the result of
that Enquiry. In the meantime the Committee has agreed in principle
to two other areas being designated as Smoke Control Areas and
preliminary work is now proceeding on these areas. In a large highly
urbanised borough like Wandsworth, it will be some time before
even a substantial part of the area will be free from smoke but in the
meantime a good start has been made, valuable experience has been
obtained and it is possible, at least, to look forward to the time when,
without in any way minimising the difficulties which will certainly be
met, Wandsworth, like other urbanised areas, will be free from smoke.
I venture to draw attention to the references to William Harvey in
this report. It is usual when statements of a scientific or quasiscientific
nature are made, for the evidence on which they are based
to be given at the same time. It is hoped that this will be done elsewhere.
In the meantine, I feel that it is not inappropriate to record
in my Annual Report for 1957, the 300th anniversary year of the
great physician's death in Roehampton, something of his links with
Wandsworth.
I mentioned last year that Dr. W. G. Harding, formerly Deputy
Medical Officer of Health, left the Department on being promoted to
take charge of one of the London County Council Health Divisions.
In Dr. Harding's place, the Council appointed Dr. Anderson Garland
who took up his duties in June 1957. It was with considerable
pleasure that we welcomed Dr. Garland to the Department since he was
already well-known to us having on many occasions helped us under
the "tripartite" arrangement which exists in this area. I should like
to take this opportunity of thanking Dr. Garland for the help he