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Closet Accommodation.
With the exception of a few houses, all the closet accommodation
in the Borough is on the water carriage system.
PUBLIC CLEANSING SERVICE.
The Health Committee is responsible for the collection
and disposal of house and trade refuse, the collection and
sale of salvageable materials and the cleansing and maintenance
of public conveniences.
Refuse Collection and Disposal.
The following table gives details of the transport used
for the collection of refuse and salvage: —
S. & D. Dust Carts (Side loading) 12
Karrier Lorries 3
Commer Utility Van 1
Trailers 12
Some difficulty was experienced in maintaining a weekly
collection at certain periods of the year, largely due to
shortage of staff. The manpower position is becoming acute,
and it is extremely difficult to replace men leaving the service
or on holiday.
All refuse is disposed of by controlled tipping at East
Wickham. A muledozer is used for levelling and consolidating
the refuse, and a large proportion of the covering
material obtained by excavating soil from the site by means
of a Chaseside shovel.
The site at East Wickham will be filled in some three
years time, and there is no other suitable tipping land in
the area. This being so, the Council have found it necessary
to look for another site outside the area, and after visiting
a number of sites, disused gravel pits at Stone, near Dartford,
appeared to offer the best facilities for the purpose. An
agreement has been reached to use certain portions of these
pits, subject to planning consent being obtained. A public
enquiry has recently been held with regard to the use of
these pits, together with other chalk pits in the North-West
Kent area, and the decision of the Minister of Housing and
Local Government is awaited.
The proposal to use these pits, if approved, will increase
the average haul to the disposal point from 2½ miles to 7
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