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14
The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries continued their experimental work on new methods of
control, and from time to time exchanged information with the Council with a view to improving
the service.
Expenditure incurred by a local authority on the destruction of rats and mice ranks for a 50 per
cent. grant from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, on condition that the cost of treatments
at premises other than private dwellings is recovered from the owners or occupiers. As the charges
fixed in 1945 were no longer adequate to cover the cost incurred, the minimum was raised from
10s. to £1 per treatment as from the 1st August, 1953, larger infestations being charged for according
to the work involved. To private residents the service continued to be available free of charge.
Dog Nuisance.—Contraventions of the bye-law relating to the fouling of footways by dogs reported
by the streets nuisance inspector resulted in twelve summonses. In eleven of these, convictions were
secured and penalties imposed. In the remaining case the defendant was discharged absolutely.
Pigeons.—Section 121 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, empowers the Council, for the purpose
of abating or mitigating nuisance, annoyance or damage, to arrange for the seizure or destruction
of pigeons in excess of such numbers as the Council consider reasonable. Accordingly, an authorised
pigeon catcher, who operates under the direction of the Medical Officer of Health, has been employed
for many years, without cost to the Council, to seize and dispose of pigeons congregating at places
in the Borough to which he is directed. During 1953, five complaints of nuisance from these birds,
relating to four premises, were referred to the pigeon catcher after investigation.
Noise.—Forty-two complaints of noise, involving twenty-nine premises, were received. Their variety
may be gathered from the following selection of alleged causes : radio, factories and machinery of
many kinds, garages, night club, milk lorries, pneumatic road drills, noisy tenants, dogs and cats.
Most of these nuisances were abated after informal action by the sanitary inspector or streets nuisance
inspector. In some cases the Department was unable to take direct action and these were referred
to other authorities possessing the necessary powers.
Atmospheric Pollution.—Two hundred and seventy-six observations were made on a total of
eighty-four premises. Forty-six complaints were received of smoke and/or grit nuisances arising from
twenty-nine premises, comprising commercial undertakings, blocks of flats, a hospital and other
institutions, private houses, and the two electricity generating stations. With the exception of
those arising from the last named the nuisances, although sometimes recurrent, were abated after
informal action which included the giving of advice by the sanitary inspectors on stoking and the
efficient use of boiler plant at business premises. Guidance on smoke prevention was also offered
during forty-one visits to residential properties, though these are outside the scope of existing
legislation.
The question of atmospheric pollution, more particularly in the vicinity of the electricity generating
stations, again received the close attention of the Council and a special sub-committee of the Public
Health Committee was appointed to consider the matter in its widest aspects. The sub-committee
received reports on the legal provisions regarding the abatement of smoke nuisances and on a survey
of boiler installations in the Borough. From the latter it was found that there were 130 premises
with boiler plants consuming annually more than 100 tons of either coal, coke or fuel oil. In total
approximately 150,000 tons of coal, 106,600 tons of coke and 10,550 tons of fuel oil were consumed in
St. Marylebone in the year 1952-53, the two power stations accounting for 105,000 tons of the coal.
The remaining 128 larger installations used 12,000 tons of coal, 30,800 tons of coke and 10,550 tons
of fuel oil, leaving a balance of 33,000 tons of coal, 75,800 tons of coke and an unknown (but probably
small) quantity of fuel oil for the smaller business and industrial users and for domestic purposes.
It will thus be seen that when generation of electricity at the Aberdeen Place Station is finally
discontinued and the plant at the Lodge Road Station is replaced by modern equipment, both of
which are due to take place within a few years, the position regarding the emission of smoke, grit
and fumes within the Borough should be greatly improved.
The Council noted with satisfaction the setting up by the Government of a Committee " to examine
the nature, causes and effect of air pollution, and the efficacy of present preventive measures ; to
consider what further preventive measures are practicable; and to make recommendations."
National bodies concerned with the problem of atmospheric pollution sought the Council's views
to assist them in the preparation of evidence for submission to the Committee, and the Council
suggested that the possibility of establishing smokeless zones in London should be examined (St.
Marylebone being willing to participate in such a scheme) and that the production of smokeless fuels
should be increased. At a later meeting the Council decided to make representations to the
Metropolitan Boroughs' Standing Joint Committee urging, not only the immediate introduction of
legislation authorising the establishment of smokeless zones in London, but also the implementation