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37
Number of inspections made and nuisances discovered
and abated are as follows:—
Number of inspections 2,688
Number of nuisances discovered 555
Which arose from the following:—
Houses not reasonably fit for habitation 110
Insufficient ash-pits 117
Defective drainage, including W.C.s 167
Animals kept in dirty state 21
Overcrowding 12
Cesspools 128
Number of premises containing each type of sanitary
convenience in District (approx.):—
W.C.s into drainage system 965
W.C.s into cesspools 1,502
Earth closets or privies 60
Pail closets 476
Fruit Pickers' Huts.—These were cleansed and limewashed
before occupation, and the bye-laws generally complied
with relative to water supply and closet accommodation; 36
inspections were made during the fruiting season.
Removal of House Refuse.—A weekly collection is carried
out under contract with the Council in connection with the
Parishes of Farnborough and Hayes, and fortnightly in
Chelsfield, Keston and West Wickham. The addition of
Chelsfield Village was added during the year.
Having regard to the large increase of residential houses
in Keston and West Wickham, I respectfully suggest that a
weekly collection has become necessary. The refuse collected
by contractors is generally used for agricultural purposes; no
serious complaints were received in connection with "refuse
dumps."
London Refuse.—During last March a large consignment
from Southwark Borough Council was delivered at Knockholt
Station for agricultural purposes on land adjoining the main
road, Pratts Bottom. Both the main road and the station
were littered with the stuff during transit, and nuisance
existed. After writing to the owner of the farm, the refuse
was ploughed in as soon as possible, and the roads also
cleansed.
Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919.—During National
Rat Week I made many personal visits to premises in the
various parishes, distributing circulars giving simple suggestions
and methods to be employed in rat destruction; and a
very large number of rats, I understand, were destroyed
during the week in question,