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late at night. This type of work outside normal working hours does
put a considerable burden upon the inspectorate involved. In
addition, one visit to the premises is by no means enough, and
investigations are often very drawn out in trying to decide whether
the best practicable means have been taken to reduce the noise, at
least to a reasonable level. In most cases following an informal
approach by the public health inspector, offenders have willingly
co-operated, but in other cases it was necessary to serve two notices
to abate nuisances.
Noise other than industrial noise is very difficult to deal with,
as it is often of an intermittent character. For example, the
sounding of chimes by ice-cream vendors after hours is an offence,
but unless an inspector or the police are on the spot at the time
the offence is committed, no prosecution can be taken. The Act
does provide, however, for any three persons aggrieved by a
noise nuisance to initiate action by complaining to the Local
Authority. One summons was taken against a trader for the
sounding of chimes after hours. He was fined £3 and £1 costs were
awarded to the Council.
I must again thank the Scientific Branch of the Greater London
Council for the assistance which they have given to the inspectors
during the past year in recording and making observations on
various noise nuisances.
Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act, 1963
General
The method of enforcement of the Act has remained unchanged
during the past year. Inspections and visits have been carried out
by specialist public health inspectors supported by technical
assistants. The majority of premises which come within the scope
of the Act receive a general inspection, and an annual call was
made, in addition, to premises not previously subject to the provisions
of the Act to see whether circumstances had altered to an
extent which would bring them within the scope of the Act.
Follow-up visits were made, when required, to deal with contraventions
of the Act detected during general inspections and also
in connection with special subjects such as lifts, safety or heating
of premises. As a result of the inspections, many improvements
were initiated and in no case was it necessary to commence legal
proceedings, although in certain instances final warning letters had
to be sent before compliance with the requirements of the Act was
achieved.
Certain occupiers will always maintain standards well above
those statutorily required, but many others will only do so when
required by the Council, and it is therefore essential that regular
visits are made to every part of the borough by the inspectors to
ensure that the requirements of the Act are always enforced.