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blocks of flats totalling 28 dwellings, also with flat for resident Warden at
Lingwood, Three Corners, Barnehurst. The standard of amenity of these old
people's dwellings is extremely high and provides a pattern for future developments
in the welfare of old people. The district now has no slums in the accepted sense
of the word but there are still quite a number of individual houses which will
need to be dealt with in the next five years. The obsolescence factor is, indeed,
low and, with the increase in the number of owner-occupiers, the provision of new
houses by the Council and private enterprise and the improvement of some of the
older houses by improvement grant procedure this favourable position could be
maintained. The housing needs of the elderly and of young femilies living in
cramped conditions either in furnished accommodation or with 'in-laws' present an
urgent problem throughout the country and are recognised by the Council as a major
obstacle to health and happiness which should be removed as soon as possible.
Atmospheric pollution is nowadays the most important hazard to the health of
the community. It is comparable in its magnitude to the pollution of public water
supplies in the 19th century before the provision of water-carriage sewerage
schemes and the problems involved in its abolition are probably even more complex.
The atmosphere is becoming, more and more, a new kind of public sewer into which
every kind of gaseous filth is discharged - from the domestic fire, the factory
chimney and, of course, from the evergrowing number of motor vehicles, both diesel
and petrol, which threaten to bring chaos to our roads. The Clean Air Act of
1956 has enabled local authorities to take the first steps to control black smoke
emissions from the domestic hearth and factory and much has already been achieved
in some of the worst 'black areas' of the country. Despite its many shortcomings
the Act remains one of the most important and far-reaching pieces of legislation
on the Statute Book and the many frustrations arising from its operation should
be seen as teething troubles inherent in such a great task as the removal of
one of the main causes of chronic respiratory disease, one of the great killing
diseases, and of cancer of the lung, of which it is not doubt a contributory cause
As a result of the London Government Act, 1963, the new London Borough of
Bexley will, on 1st April, 1965, become responsible for the Health and Welfare and
Children's services. It is difficult not to feel some regret at the passing of
the old order but one cannot but welcome the great opportunities and challenge
which face the new Borough and which will, surely, in years to come, bring about
a fully integrated Health service, close to the people it is designed to serve
and providing opportunities for the prevention of disease and the promotion of
health greater than ever before particularly in the field of mental health and
the welfare of the elderly and the handicapped.
In conclusion, I wish to thank the Chairman and Members of the Health Committee
for their support and encouragement, and the Chief Public Health Inspector, Chief
Clerk, and all members of the Health Department for the good work which has been
done during the year. I acknowledge also the help and co-operation received from
other Departments of the Council.
I am.
Your obedient Servant,
JOHN LANDON
Medical Officer of Health
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