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26
to appoint a permanent watchman on the Lime Trees Estate,
whose duty it is to have these caravans removed as soon
as they appear on the site. This procedure appears to have
been successful,
FOOD HYGIENE
During 1955, 32 lectures were given to food handlers,
of whom 108 received Certificates upon completing the
course. Also 13 revision lectures were given to 160 food
handlers and 4 lectures to various organisations in the
Borough. Since the scheme commenced six years ago, 371
lectures have been given to food handlers and 1,557 persons
have received Certificates of Attendance.
The number of Certificates of Food Hygiene awarded to
food establishments decreased during the year to 54. One
new certificate was issued and six withdrawn five owing
to the establishments closing and one because the business
changed ownership.
During 1955, 2,196 inspections of food premises were
made by the Sanitary Inspectors and 360 repairs and improve
ments were carried out.
Twenty talks on Pood Hygiene by the Sanitary Inspec
tors to school leavers in the secondary grammar and secon
dary modern schools in the Borough were given during the
year to approximately 800 school-children.
The Food Hygiene Regulations made under the Food and
Drugs Act, 1955, came into operation on the 1st January,
1956, and have considerably increased the duties of the
Department in respect of Food Hygiene. It is hoped that
these Regulations will stimulate interest in the Council's
Clean Food Scheme and every effort will be made to encourage
the attendance of food handlers and those engaged in food
trades to attend our lecture courses. In addition to providing
these lecture courses the Sanitary Inspectors will
also have the important task of seeing that the Regulations
are enforced in food establishments and in inspecting the
structural alterations and improvements of premises which
in many cases will be required. It cannot, therefore, be
stressed too frequently that to carry out the requirements
of the Regulations it will be essential to have a full
staff.
The demand for the film strip on Food Infections made
by the Council still continues and a further 15 copies
have been sold during the year.