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INSPECTION OF FACTORIES AND OUTWORKERS' PREMISES - Factories Act, 1961
This act and various regulations made under it places on local authorities the
responsibility for the enforcement of provisions relating to cleanliness, overcrowding,
temperature, ventilation, drainage of floors and sanitary conveniences in respect of
any factory where mechanical power is not used, and the provisions
concerning sanitary conveniences in powered factories. In accordance with Section 8
of the Act, a register of all factories in the Borough is kept and at the end of the year
1,119 premises were registered. Routine inspections were carried out at 430 factory
premises and, although a number of defects were found, most of these were remedied
during the year and in no case was it found necessary to institute proceedings.
Section 133 of the Act required occupiers of factories to notify local
authorities of the names and addresses of persons employed by them in their own
houses when they are engaged on certain classes of work. 61 visits of inspection
were made to outworkers' houses and in all cases conditions were found to be
satisfactory.
Statistical information is given in Tables 8, 9, and 10.
COMMON LODGING HOUSES
There are no common lodging houses in the Borough.
RAG FLOCK AND OTHER FILLING MATERIALS ACT, 1951
At the end of the year, 11 premises in the Borough were registered under this
Act, which is designed to secure the use of clean filling and lining materials in
upholstered articles, and other articles which are stuffed or lined.
Conditions were found to be satisfactory in all cases.
THE NOISE ABATEMENT ACT, 1960
Noise Complaints
The number of complaints received during the year about alleged noise
nuisances was 119. This figure is an increase of 17% above the number of complaints
received during 1965 and again points to the greater reaction of the general public
to the whole problem of noise.
The complaints referred to noise from commerce and industry, noisy neighbours,
traffic, road drills and the keeping of animals. As would be expected from the mixed
development of parts of the Borough, approximately half of the complaints related to
noise from factories or commercial premises. Of these it was found that about 65%
could be held to be nuisances. In the case of the compl aints about noise from other
sources, the position was reversed, and only 35% were found to be justified. Once
again, the Council did not require to use formal statutory action to achieve the
necessary reductions in noise emissions.
In the autumn, the attention of the Public Utility companies was drawn to the
number of complaints being received in the department regarding excessive noise from
road drills and pointing out that the Borough Engineer and Surveyor had undertaken
to equip the Council's drills with the appropriate noise converters or muffles. The
response to this appeal was generally favourable, although one company pointed
out that there was a loss of efficiency with some types of muffle. It was noticed
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