London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Dagenham 1962
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Dagenham]
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Smoke Control Areas
The Council have agreed in principle to include the whole Borough in smoke control areas as soon as possible and in any case in not more than 10 years. The progress up-to-date is indicated below:—
| Order No. | No. of Houses | Date of Operation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,000 (Marks Gate) | 1st September, 1959 |
| 2 | 3,722 (L.C.C. estate) | 1st November, 1961 |
| 3 | 3,230 ( „ „ ) | 1st November, 1962 |
| 4 | 4,562 ( „ „ ) | 1st November, 1963 |
| 5 | 1,542 (Chadwell Heath) | 1st August, 1964 |
| 6 (Survey in progress) | 3,100 Approx. (L.C.C. estate) | 1 st November, 1964 |
The extent of the work involved is indicated in that during the year 20,662 visits to
premises have been paid by the inspectors. The additional inspector appointed to assist
in this work left the Council's service early in 1963.
The supply of smokeless fuel continues to provide some problems and during the
severe wintry weather of early 1963 householders in smoke control areas, as elsewhere,
were glad to obtain any type of fuel. Gloco (coke) although the cheapest solid smokeless
fuel is not generally acceptable to the public. In an empty L.C.C. house in the No. 3
Area the burning of Gloco was demonstrated in the grates of the two ground floor rooms;
unfortunately there was thick fog during the whole of the two days the house was available
to us and very few people attended. There is doubtless a great need of publicity to
persuade the householders of the value of Gloco as a fuel and to teach the technique of
burning it. The demand for premium fuels (although dearer than Gloco) appears to be
based on the fact that they can be burnt on an approved grate as coal would be burnt,
that is, without any need to trouble about the regulation of draught. Few householders
appreciate that the main benefit of fixing an approved coke-burning grate is to provide a
means of draught control which can be operated within fairly narrow limits.
NOISE ABATEMENT ACT, 1960
Section 1 of the Act makes noise or vibration which is a nuisance, a statutory nuisance
under the Public Health Act, 1936. Seven complaints during the year were in respect of
private dwellings; these were all concerned with noisy neighbours.
Section 2 of the Act restricts the operation of loud speakers on the highway. This
is dealt with by the Council's Shops Act Inspector. During the year legal proceedings
were instituted in 16 cases. The Council were successful in each case; fines totalling
£76 were imposed and £16 in costs awarded. In addition, proceedings were taken in
three cases under the Dagenham Urban District Council Act, 1931, in respect of the use
of noisy instruments for the purpose of advertising a trade or business. It would not
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