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Shops Act, .1950
The duties of the Public Health Inspectors under this Act differ
very widely in character. The health and welfare provisions embrace
sanitation, heating, ventilation, rest facilities, etc., but the Inspectors
are also the Council's authorised Officers for enforcing the statute
so far as it relates to hours of opening and closing, the weekly halfholiday
and early closing day, Sunday trading, the type of goods
which are prohibited from sale at certain times, the employment of
young persons, and the keeping of records. During 1960 301 visits
were made to shops in the Borough, and 12 contraventions remedied.
National Assistance Act, 1948
Burial and Cremation of Dead
Section 50 of this Act places responsibility on a local authority
for the burial of persons who have died, or been found dead, in their
area where it appears that no suitable arrangements for disposal have
been made.
During 1960, it was necessary to take action under this Section
on two occasions only.
Noise Nuisances
Complaints of nuisance from noise, particularly that arising from
industry sited in a residential area, are not infrequent. The Council
had certain powers to obtain abatement under the Beckenham Urban
District Council Act, 1935, but they were by no means positive. It
was necessary to prove the noise to be either excessive, unreasonable
or unnecessary, and injurious or dangerous to health, and capable of
being prevented or mitigated having regard to all the circumstances
of the case. Where the noise arose in the course of any trade, business
or occupation, it was a good defence to show that the best practicable
means for preventing noise, having regard to the cost, had been adopted.
It was by no means easy, upon receiving a complaint, to institute
statutory action under this Act.
The advent of the Noise Abatement Act, I960, clarified the
position considerably. This enactment provides that any noise or
vibration which is a nuisance is a statutory nuisance for the purposes
of Part III of the Public Health Act, 1936. The Act did not come into
operation until the 27th November, 1960, and it is perhaps too early
firmly to assess its value. Nevertheless it obviously provides greater
simplification of procedure than existed under previous legislation
available to the Council.
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