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the closest co-operation has always existed locally, although they
can and do, on occasion, like other Health Officers, initiate and
complete desirable courses of action without other branches of the
Service necessarily being aware of their action. As anybody with
experience will know, this is inevitable and need not be detrimental;
complete liaison may be ideal and should be aimed at, but its
achievement in this life is impossible. Mutual respect and trust,
coupled with willing co-operation when possible is the best practical
substitute.
During 1957 the Inspectors received 831 complaints and
altogether paid a total of 18,172 visits, details of which are obtainable
on request. The nature of a number of these will be revealed
in subsequent sections or have been previously referred to in relation
to infectious disease enquiries and disinfection.
Here it can be noted that over half the complaints they
received related to rats and insect pests, about one third to the
condition of property and some 50 complaints were about foodstuffs.
Similarly a general impression of the causes of the visits
can be given by the following main headings, i.e. the condition of
properties (over 5,500); pests (5,600); shops and workplaces (about
1,500); food premises (about 2,000); infectious diseases (250). Some
3,250 visits can only be described as interviewing for various
purposes or as touching a miscellaneous variety of subjects.
As a result of these visits, some 616 drainage or sanitary
fittings were dealt with, 624 other housing defects remedied, and in
675 instances defects were remedied in food premises. Other
results will be deduced subsequently, e.g. in the sections on vermin
and food.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS, ETC.
Compliance with public health requirements including the
repair of insanitary houses is normally enforced by verbal request
or preliminary notice to the person responsible. If necessary this
is followed up by the service of a Statutory or Legal Notice with
Court proceedings as the final means of appeal.
Over the years fewer and fewer cases have necessitated
referral to a Court and this is illustrated by the figures for 1957.
Of 644 Preliminary Notices served, only 55 were followed by
Statutory Notices (23 less than in respect of a similar number of
cases in 1956) and no case was taken to Court.
DRAINAGE AND SEWERAGE.
During the year 273 yards of new sewer were constructed in
the District, mainly to deal with new development.
The majority of the sewage drains into Croydon's sewers
and is treated at Beddington before the effluent enters the River
Wandle. Sewers from this and neighbouring districts, converge on
Purley Corner where, periodically, nuisance and dislocation is
caused by flooding, particularly following heavy rainfall.
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