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25
Legal Proceedings.
During the year legal proceedings in connection with nuisances wore instituted
in respect of alleged infringements of the relative provisions of the Public Health
(London) Act, 1936, London County Council Bye-laws and the Bye-laws of the St.
Marylebone Borough Council, eleven separate premises being involved. The total
number of summonses served was 111, and 45 abatement orders, three closing orders
and one prohibition order, were obtained. The total fines imposed amounted to £56
and the costs awarded were £102 2s. 6d.
SHOPS.
During the period under review 111 shops were inspected. Fourteen informal
notices, served in respect of contraventions of the provisions of the Shops Act, 1934,
were complied with.
SMOKE ABATEMENT.
During the year, 119 observations were made and 13 complaints were received
and dealt with. In each case the attention of the offender w as drawn to the matter.
Seven intimation notices were issued, but in no instance was the service of a statutory
notice or the institution of legal proceedings called for.
SWIMMING BATHS.
The Public Baths Establishment in Seymour Place contains two swimming
pools, slipper baths, laundries, and a squash rackets court. The water of the
swimming pools is treated by modern filtration and purification plant. Samples,
taken periodically, have, under bacteriological examination, yielded entirely satisfactory
results.
There are two privately owned swimming pools in the Borough; one at the
Middlesex Hospital for the use of the staff; and one at the Polytechnic in Regent
Street, available only to members of the Institute.
ERADICATION OF BED BUGS.
Six Council houses and 86 other houses where bugs were found wpre disinfested.
CLEANSING OF VERMINOUS PERSONS.
The numbers of adults and school children using the cleansing station during
1940 were 582 (387 males, 195 females) and 1,976 (690 boys, 1,286 girls) respectively.
SHELTER.
During 1940 there was no occasion for the occupation of the shelter for the
special purpose for which it was provided under section 195 (4) of the Public Health
(London) Act, 1936.
RAT REPRESSION.
Forty-six complaints were received in 1940, necessitating the inspection of
98 premises, 35 of which were found to be rat infested. Included in this latter
number were 13 business premises (5 of these for the preparation or storage of food),
20 private or tenement houses and 2 vacant sites. In 5 of the cases investigated
the infestation was directly attributable to defects in the drainage system, and the
nuisance disappeared when repair or reconstruction was carried out.
PIGS, HENS AND RABBITS.
Under a Defence Regulation (No. 62B) the keeping of pigs, hens and rabbits
is permitted on any land, notwithstanding any term to the contrary in any lease,
tenancy or contract, provided that health is not prejudiced or nuisance caused.