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The Public Health Committee agreed the designation of this area as a smoke
control area and its action was confirmed by the Council. Preliminary approval
had already been received to the suggested area from the Ministry of Housing and
Local Government. The official representation is now in the hands of the Ministry,
whose final approval we are awaiting.
The Council will realise that although the actual representation took place
in 1958 the bulk of the work was done in 1957.
Public Houses
There are at present 252 public houses in the Borough. Three of them are
unoccupied. Of these three, two are shortly to be demolished, one because of a
dangerous structure notice from London County Council and the other because it
is within a clearance area. The third is being rebuilt. Of the occupied public
houses, one is at present undergoing extensive structural alterations which
amount almost to a rebuilding, and another is to be rebuilt in the near future.
56 public houses have restaurants and 10 have buffets. Those public houses
with neither, normally serve sandwiches at the bar. Some of the public houses
with restaurants also have buffets. These are included in the figure of 10 given
above.
In 1948-49 a complete survey of all the Public Houses in the borough was
made. It was ascertained that some were deficient in sanitary accommodation for
the use of customers. In 1948 and in subsequent years, with the co-operation of
the brewers, very great improvements were made in this respect, and at present
there is hardly a public house in the Borough where there is not suitable and
sufficient sanitary accommodation for both sexes. In the three or four cases
where there is not a sufficiency of these facilities and where no action is being
taken by us, the explanation lies in the fact that owing to limitation of space
it is quite impracticable to install additional apartments, or alternatively
(as in one case) the public house is within approximately 25ft. of both men's
and women's public underground conveniences.
Since 1948-49 there has been no routine inspection of any public house, but
visits have been made as and when occasion has arisen. This year, however, a
routine inspection was carried out and it was found, generally speaking, that
little was required in the way of repairs of a structural nature, although some
redecorative work to many of the premises was required. The brewers and licencees
have been most co-operative with the inspectors in carrying out necessary works.
As a result of the inspections, 22 notices and 69 letters requiring work to
be done were sent to the brewers. Some of the work has already been executed,
some is in progress, and the remainder is expected to be carried out in the near
future.
The general standard of hygiene in the public houses is satisfactory. In
those which have restaurants the kitchens are adequately equipped and well
maintained.
In all but six cases there is a proper supply of hot and cold water to the
bar sinks for the washing of glasses. The hot water supply is not considered
satisfactory unless it is a direct supply from a solid fuel boiler or an
instantaneous gas or electric heater. Examination of the glasses used by the
public did not reveal chipping or lack of cleanliness; 50 per cent. of the
licensees use detergents for the washing up of glasses.
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