View report page

35
WORK OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH INSPECTORS
W. Haworth, F.A.P.H.I., Chief Public Health Inspector
I have the honour to submit a report on the work of the Public Health
Inspectors for the year 1972.
It is appropriate to state in introducing this report that environmental
hygiene and protection has taken on a new importance in recent years in the
light of higher standards of living, technological advances in industry, increasing
road and air transport and traffic noise. From the more commonplace
problems associated with the domestic environment the subject has broadened
to take in the general problem of noise generation, disposal of toxic waste, air
pollution in its broadest sense and sophistication of foods.
Notwithstanding this development the bulk of the time of the Inspectorate
has been taken up with basic problems associated with housing, food control,
offices and other work places and general sanitation including infectious
disease control. The year past has been no exception in the pressures that are
brought to bear in an effort to achieve speedy relief from conditions that are
thought to constitute a nuisance or health hazard.
The biggest single factor against progress in the housing repair sector is
the shortage of building labour. The attractions of new work coupled with the
sheer amount of work available in the building industry results in a lack of
interest in less-attractive repair work in occupied houses. This is the experience
of many private owners and certainly the Council's Building Maintenance
Manager who undertakes works of default on behalf of the Department.
During the year 14 British Rail cottages situated on an island site in the
centre of the main line railway track at Sel hurst were dealt with informally.
The houses were sub-standard in character and it was found impractical to provide
proper drainage. In view of the isolated nature of the site coupled with the
noisy environment, the only satisfactory solution was demolition and this was
carried out by the Board with some assistance from the Council in re-housing
six of the families concerned.
Two houses in Sydenham Road were made the subject of a clearance area
and subsequently demolished.
Demolition or Closing Orders were made in respect of seven houses and
ten basements or other parts of houses were closed.
In response to a Circular from the Department of the Environment requiring
information about the condition of the housing stock of individual local authorities
a 1% sample survey of the housing stock in the Borough was carried out
during the year. The result of the survey could be considered reassuring and
indicated that the condition of the housing stock in Croydon compares favourably
with that in other London Boroughs.