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24. GENERAL ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH MEASURES
NUISANCES AND COMPLAINTS
During the year, 5,988 complaints were received, the main categories of complaint
being as follows:-
Housing defects 1,404
Dustbins and refuse 773
Drainage 790
Animals 27
Insects and wasps 212
Food 348
Smoke emissions and bonfires 178
Overcrowding and multiple occupation 120
Noise 120
Rats and mice 1,562
Miscellaneous 454
5,988
Action taken as a result of complaints resulted in 4,289 initial inspections of
premises of all types and the service of 1,510 informal notices under the Public
Health Acts and allied legislation. This informal action generally brought a
satisfactory response and most requirements of the notices were dealt with in a
reasonable time by the persons responsible. It was necessary, however, to serve 533
statutory notices in cases where action to remedy defects was not readily forthcoming
and in the case of 13 premises, legal proceedings were taken. Of these 13 cases,
3 were adjourned to enable owners to carry out the works, and Nuisance Orders were
made in the remaining 10 cases. Total costs payable to the Council amounted to
£55. 3. Od. A total of 4,580 repairs and improvements were carried out as a result of
informal and formal action under the Public Health and Housing Acts. The most
numerous items involved were the cleansing and repair of 1,015 drains and water
closets, abatement of dampness in 373 cases, the removal of 343 accumulations of
refuse and the repair of 337 walls and ceilings.
DESTRUCTION OF PIGEONS - Public Health Act, 1961
The contract with a firm specialising in the destruction of pigeons was
renewed and the continuation of this work resulted in the destruction of 2,847 feral
pigeons.
The usual pattern of behaviour of pigeons is for them to roost in belfries, etc.,
during the night and to perch on roofs or gather in open spaces during the day. Larger
numbers can, therefore, be caught by night with relative ease, but trapping in daylight
has to be confined to the early morning if adverse public reaction is to be avoided.
CARAVAN SITES AND CONTROL OF DEVELOPMENT ACT, 1960
One application for the renewal of a site licence for the use of a caravan on
a sports ground was granted for a period of one year, expiring on 31st March, 1967.
The illegal occupation of open land and service roads in the extreme western
edge of the Borough as camping sites by gipsies and other itinerant travellers
continued to present problems. Several sites available in earlier years became
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