View report page

Ward, came into operation on the 1st of October and at the end of the year the Minister of Housing
and Local Government confirmed the fifth smoke control order (covering the Portman Square Ward)
to be made by the Council. It is anticipated that the entire Borough will be virtually smokeless by
the autumn of 1965.
One major blot on the horizon remains, namely the antiquated electricity generating stations in the
Church Street Ward. The station in Aberdeen Place, which has tall chimneys and operates only very
occasionally, does not present so serious a problem as that at Lodge Road which, having low chimneys
and being in operation throughout the year, causes considerable pollution in the form of grit and dust
much to the annoyance and discomfort of local residents. If these veteran power stations are to
operate indefinitely, then the installation of the most modern grit and dust arresting plant becomes an
absolute necessity in order to reduce atmospheric pollution from this source to a minimum.
The information about refuse collection and street cleansing ou page 16, kindly supplied by the
Director of Public Cleansing, illustrates the manifold contribution which this important service makes
to the public health. It plays a full part in the Clean Air Campaign in employing dustless methods of
collection ; it endeavours to eliminate unnecessary noise—another problem which increasingly engages
the attention of the public health department—and it promotes the cause of food hygiene and of
rodent control by the frequent removal of refuse from catering establishments.
Health education is an essential ingredient of public health practice. To be fully effective it needs
to be fostered constantly and this is well brought out in the section of the report dealing with the
inspection and supervision of food. The regular visits paid to food premises play an important role
in ensuring a high standard of cleanliness, so essential if the hazards of contamination are to be avoided.
Much has been achieved in this field. The high national incidence of food poisoning—over 6,000
incidents were notified in 1960—shows all too clearly how much remains to be done. As a means of
disseminating in an attractive manner, on the widest possible front, knowledge about the basic facts
of clean food handling and indeed of all health matters, the value of television cannot be over-estimated.
Woefully little use has been made of this powerful new weapon in the armoury of health education.
May this omission be remedied in the near rather than the distant future.
In conclusion I wish to express my very real gratitude to His Worship the Mayor, to the Chairman,
Councillor Mrs. F. E. Glennv, and members of the Public Health Committee, and to members of the
Council, generally, for their continued help and encouragement. To my colleagues in other Departments
of the Council I extend my sincere thanks for their ever ready assistance so willingly given.
Finally I am indeed grateful to the Staff of the Public Health Department for their valuable, cheerful
and loyal support.
I am, Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
HASTINGS E.A. CARSON,
Medical Officer of Health.