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There have been times during the year when there was conflict between planning requirements
and public health considerations. One may ask how and why such a predicament arises. Unfortunately
the root cause of all the trouble is the absence of any powers for the prior approval of
catering establishments. All the would be caterer need do is obtain planning approval for the
establishment of a new restaurant, but in arriving at a decision, planning authorities do not, and
of course cannot, give consideration to the suitability or otherwise of the premises in question.
Later, when our requirements are made known regarding such items as ventilating plants and the
position of exhaust ducts, etc. the caterer complains bitterly amongst other things of the limitations
imposed regarding the termination of exhaust ducts which, in our opinion, should always be
carried to the highest point of the building in order to avoid nuisance from cooking smells. Most
certainly it does seem illogical that planning approval can be given in isolation, without regard
to other equally important considerations.
However, there is also a brighter side to the picture, and some considerable success has
been achieved in our efforts to persuade architects, catering advisers and intending caterers to
devote more time and attention to the design and construction of kitchens and ancillary rooms.
Unfortunately, because of the very high rents in the City, space is always at a premium and seldom
do we achieve ideal arrangements, as invariably the space available for the functionable
part of the restaurant is severely limited. Unlikely though it may appear to the uninitiated, the
finances of many caterers are so finely balanced that a couple of tables more or less may determine
the difference between a profit and a loss.
It will be recalled that the new Licensing Act came into operation during the year under
review. In accordance with the provisions of this Act it was necessary for clubs of all kinds,
including staff luncheon clubs which sell intoxicating liquor, to apply to the Licensing Justices
for registration, and it was our duty to inspect each of these clubs to ensure that conditions were
satisfactory from a public health point of view. Whilst certain facilities such as additional
sanitary accommodation and improved washing-up arrangements were required in some cases, it
was not found necessary to lodge an official objection to the registration of any club. It is only
fair to say that the secretaries and other responsible officers were generally very co-operative in
carrying out our recommendations and in arranging for the execution of such works as were necessary
to secure reasonable standards in their premises.
Eating is one of the few human activities that can be enjoyed from the cradle to the grave
but at times we wonder if some of the City caterers, especially those in staff canteens, are perhaps
too enthusiastic in their attempt to convince their customers that one should not "Live to
Eat" but should be content with eating to live. Judging from the amount of food which finds its
way into the pig-swill bin it would appear that there is room for improvement in die exercise of
the culinary skills in some of the thousand catering establishments situated within the City.
ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION
The routine measurement of atmospheric pollution at the stations in the City of London continued
during the year. The results are set out in the Tables which follow.
TABLE I — Deposit gauge:
The rainfall collected was much the same as 1961, and was less than the average for the
previous five years.
During the year the total amount of soluble and insoluble matter deposited in the collecting
bowl was generally below the average for the previous years although a slight rise in soluble
deposits was noted at Guildhall.
TABLE II —Smoke concentrations by the volumetric method
In 1962 the average concentrations of smoke at two stations—Golden Lane and Cloak Lane —
were below those recorded for the average of the previous five years. At Bishopsgate and Snow
Hill there was a slight increase.
TABLE III—Sulphur measurement by the volumetric and lead peroxide methods.
During 1962 there was a slight increase over the average of the previous five years in concentrations
of sulphur pollution at all four stations measured by the vplumetric method.
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