View report page

18
to ensure that metropolitan borough councils should be the responsible authorities. The only water
in the Borough which may be affected is the Grand Union Canal, in respect of which the Inland
Waterways Executive already possess adequate powers to prevent pollution, etc. The lake in Regent's
Park is not involved as it does not discharge into a "stream" as defined in the Act. While little
action has been found necessary in St. Marylebone under the 1876 Act, the functions, duties and certain
powers under the new Act have been formally delegated by the Council to the Public Health
Committee.
Methylated Spirit Drinking.—Following the report to the Public Health Committee on the 4th October,
1950, in which attention was drawn to an increase in drunkenness due to the consumption of methylated
spirit, representations were made through the Metropolitan Boroughs' Standing Joint Committee
to the Home Office and H.M. Commissioners of Customs and Excise. Both these Government
Departments at once appreciated the seriousness of the issue and gave it the fullest possible
consideration.
The Customs and Excise authorities, who are responsible for the control and proper use of surgical
spirit (the less unpalatable form of methylated spirit) conducted investigations through their local
officers, and it is interesting to note that retail chemists in the Borough who were interviewed agreed
that addicts to this form of alcohol were readily identifiable. Moreover, chemists in the vicinity of
the common lodging house for men (in Burne Street and Lisson Street) round which most of the
problem centred, showed an awareness of the habit and willingness to co-operate in suppressing misuse
of the spirit. The Customs and Excise authorities also sought the assistance of the two chemists'
organisations—the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (the statutory body) and the National
Pharmaceutical Union (the professional association) and the latter circularised its members throughout
the country drawing attention to their legal obligations and inviting their help by not displaying
surgical spirit for sale and by refusing to sell it to anyone they considered might be likely to use it
improperly. It was felt that to allow surgical spirit to be sold on prescription only would prove
irksome to chemists and bona fide customers. The Home Office, for similar reasons and from knowledge
of experience elsewhere, was unwilling to include surgical spirit in the Part I Poisons Schedule because
of the relatively small number of addicts.
It is to be hoped that, as a result of the action taken by the Council in bringing this matter to the
notice of the Government Departments concerned and the subsequent thorough investigations and
suggested measures of control, there may be at least a lessening of the problem and that practice
of the habit of methylated spirit drinking may be rendered more difficult. Certainly, it is gratifying
to be able to report that the last twelve months have shown a decline in this form of drunkenness,
and recently the number of incidents at the lodging house has been the lowest for many years. It
is largely due to the approach made by the St. Marylebone Customs and Excise officers to local chemists
that this improvement in the position has been secured, and the Council expressed their appreciation
of this active co-operation and practical assistance.
SECTION D.—HOUSING.
Permanent Schemes.—The Barrow Hill Estate, comprising 172 flats, was completed early in 1951.
The first section of the Townshend Estate, providing 70 flats in three blocks, was also completed during
the year; 12 of the 40 flats in the second section were nearing completion but the section could not
be finished owing to shortage of steel.
The Council obtained the freehold of Notcutt House, Nos. 35-38, Dorset Square, at a cost of £18,750.
The premises, which were completely rebuilt after war damage, consist of 19 flats.
Arrangements were made to purchase refrigerators and hire them to tenants of permanent housing
estates.
Progress was made with negotiations for the acquisition and development of the following sites
Abbey Road—Boundary Road (54 flats); Queen's Terrace (28 flats); Hamilton Terrace—Carlton
Hill (52 flats) ; Wellington Road (120 flats): Nos. 35-55, Boundary Road (48 flats); Abercorn Place—
Hamilton Terrace (34 flats) and Church Street Extension (60 flats and 10 shops). The Council decided
to acquire compulsorily six small sites to provide a further 101 flats.
County of London Development Plan.—The Council requested the London County Council to designate
a site in Church Street in the development plan for municipal housing, with a view to the erection
thereon of an extension to the existing Church Street Housing Estate.
Barrow Hill Primary School.—The Council agreed to relinquish the factory-made bungalows on the
Henstridge Place site to enable the London County Council to build a new county primary school.
This involves the displacement of 19 tenants during 1952 and the remaining 9 tenants at a later date.
All will be rehoused by the County Council.