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20. GENERAL ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH MEASURES
NUISANCES AND COMPLAINTS
During the year, 6,341 complaints were received, the main categories of complaint being as follows:-
Housing defects 1,270
Dustbins and refuse 518
Drainage 1,344
Animals, etc. 36
Insects and wasps 235
Food 341
Smoke emissions and bonfires 207
Overcrowding and multiple occupation 175
Noise 154
Rats and mice 1,699
Miscellaneous 362
6,341
Action taken as a result of complaints resulted in 6,925 inspections of premises of all types and the
service of 1,699 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 634 statutory notices in
cases where action to remedy defects was not readily forthcoming and in the case of 19 premises, legal
proceedings were necessary, involving the service of 21 summonses. Of these 21 cases, 7 were withdrawn
before the hearings on compliance, and on payment of agreed costs to the Council. Nuisance Orders were
made in 9 cases and defendants ordered to pay costs, and fines and costs were imposed in 4 other cases.
In the remaining case, a Public Health Inspector was granted an entry warrant as a result of obstruction on
the part of an occupier. Total fines imposed amounted to £33. and costs to £66. 3s. Od. The owner of a
house in Acton appealed to the Middlesex Quarter Sessions against conviction and fines imposed during
1967, for failure to comply with a Nuisance Order. In this case the original fine of £50. was reduced to
£5. and costs of £10. 10s. Od. cancelled.
A total of 3,519 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 957 drains and water closets, abatement of dampness in 331 cases, the removal of 263
accumulations of refuse and the repair of 329 walls and ceilings, and 317 roofs.
45.