View report page

LAUNDRY SERVICE FOR THE INCONTINENT AGED
This service continues to meet a real need in the home at a time when help is usually
most urgent. Soiled articles are collected and laundered articles returned each Monday,
Wednesday and Friday. A small metal bin is provided in the home for the reception of
soiled articles after they have been rinsed in cold water. In order to assist in transport
to the laundry (the department operates a small 5-cwts. motor van) it was decided to
replace the bins with canvas bags.
The service worked well due in a large measure to the helpful, co-operative attitude
of the department's driver and the laundry staff at the Barking hospital.
An average of about 18 cases use the service at any one time. From the commencement
of the service in December 1953 to the end of this year 185 cases have received
assistance. During the year 46 new cases have been helped, 20 cases died, 20 were
removed to hospital and three no longer needed the service, At the end of the year 18
cases were still participating; the number of articles laundered during the year was
13,326 compared with 11,492 articles for the previous year.
ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION
On the 1st June, 1958 all the outstanding provisions of the Clean Air Act, 1956
were brought into operation. The Dark Smoke (Permitted Periods) Regulations 1958
provide the maximum periods for the emission of dark smoke from industrial plants;
black smoke is limited to not more than two minutes in the aggregate in any period of 30
minutes. 68 observations were made of the chimneys of industrial premises in the
Borough; although there were informal discussions in some cases there was no need for
statutory action during the year. The Council continue to operate at the Civic Centre
and in the vicinity of Valence House instruments for the daily and monthly measurement
of air pollution.
Several visits were paid to local organisations at which the problem (local and
national) of air pollution was discussed. Part of the department's stand at the Dagenham
Town Show held on Saturday and Sunday 12th and 13th July, 1958 was used to publicise
the use of solid smokeless fuel; the North Thames Gas Board co-operated with the
department.
Smoke Control Areas
The Council continued to co-operate with neighbouring local authorities. Conferences
with representatives of Hornchurch and Romford have been attended to discuss
the possibilities of co-ordinating policies; a meeting with representatives of Barking and
Ilford discussed the question of a programme in respect of the London County Council's
Becontree estate. The Council are also represented at the joint conference of local
authorities covering the East London area.
19