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There are no common lodging houses in the borough.
Tents, Vans and Sheds
The number of gypsies pulling their vans on to the few remaining vacant
sites in the borough in an effort to spend at least a few days in the area, has
continued to decrease. During the year inspectors paid 46 visits to the one or
two sites used by the gypsies.
NATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACT,1948
Section 47
The surveillance of persons who are unable properly to care for themselves
continues to receive the constant attention of all members of the department.
The various services operated by the department continue to improve the lot of
many of these unfortunate people, who, although they cannot do much for themselves
are unwilling to leave their homes in what are inevitably their last
days. It was not necessary compulsorily to remove any person during the year,
although in one or two cases health visitors and inspectors assisted in
improving conditions, especially general cleansing, before and after voluntary
removal to hospital.
Section 50
One female was buried under the provisions of this section during the
year.
LAUNDRY SERVIcE FOR THE INcONTINENT AGED
This service continues to meet the real need in the home at a time when
help is usually most urgent. The days of collection and delivery of laundered
articles remain Mondays and Thursdays. Disposable plastic bags are now used
as containers for the soiled linen; this has been a considerable improvement
and is cheaper than using linen bags which require regular washing.
The helpful, co-operative attitude of the department's driver and the
laundry staff at the Barking Hospital in carrying out what is sometimes a
very unpleasant task, ensures a very satisfactory service.
An average of about 22 cases use the service at any one time.
ATMOSPHERIc POLLUTION
The Dark Smoke (Permitted Periods) Regulations 1958 provide the maximum
period 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 50
minutes. Action was not called for in respect of any industrial plant in the
borough.
The council continue to operate at the civic centre instruments for the
daily measurement of air pollution. In connection with the National Survey of
Air Pollution, regular observations were commenced in 1962 at four additional
sites. The types of district in which the sites are situate are:-
(i) Residential with high population density (Bennett Road).
(ii) Residential with low population density (Thompson Road).
(iii) Industrial (Ford Motor company).
(iv) Smoke control area (Marks Gate).
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