London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Ealing 1970
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Ealing]
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21. GENERAL ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH MEASURES
NUISANCES AND COMPLAINTS
During the year, 7,953 complaints were received, the main categories of complaint being as follows:-
| Housing defects | 1,411 |
| Dustbins and refuse | 893 |
| Drainage | 1, 209 |
| Animals, etc. | 66 |
| Insects and wasps | 364 |
| Pood | 364 |
| Smoke emissions and bonfires | 237 |
| Overcrowding and multiple occupation | 63 |
| Noise | 151 |
| Rats and mice | 2,836 |
| Miscellaneous | 180 |
Action taken as a result of complaints resulted in 8,964 inspections of premises of
all types and the service of 1,321 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 628 statutory notices in cases where
action to remedy defects was not readily forthcoming and in the case of 25 premises,
legal proceedings were necessary, involving the service of 26 summonses. Of these 26
cases, 8 were withdrawn before the hearings on compliance, and on payment of agreed
costs to the Council. Nuisance Orders were made in 10 cases and defendants ordered to
pay costs, and fines and costs were imposed in 2 other cases. In three other cases no
orders were made as the works were completed before the hearings, but costs were
granted. One case was withdrawn due to the summons being wrongly served but the work
was subsequently completed. Another case was adjourned sine die to allow the work to be
done. The Council carried out works in default of the owner in the last case and the
summons was withdrawn. Total fines imposed amounted to £65 and costs to £123.10.
A total of 4,384 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 1,016 drains and water closets, abatement of
dampness in 297 cases, the removal of 610 accumulations of refuse and the repair of 287
walls and ceilings, and 196 roofs.
DESTRUCTION OP PIGEONS - PUBLIC HEALTH ACT, 1961
The contract with a firm specialising in the destruction of pigeons was continued
and work carried out resulted in the destruction of 3,726 feral pigeons.
CARAVAN SITES AND CONTROL OP DEVELOPMENT ACT, 1960
The Council's warden continued to deal with gipsies and other travellers who
entered the borough from its western boundaries and parked their vehicles on service
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