View report page

to Cat Hill. In view of this the Committee decided to make a preliminary
survey of an area bounded by a line from the Cock Hotel to Cat Hill
Park Road - Edgworth Road, in order to ascertain the approximate
number of houses in this area which would require adaptation so that an
estimate of the cost of any proposed scheme for the establishment of
a Smoke Control Area might be ascertained.
In consequence of this decision a pilot survey of the area was proceeding
at the end of the year and a report to the Committee on this area
is to be made in 1959.
During the year the usual routine smoke observations of various industrial
chimneys were made and a report regarding smoke and fumes
emitted from the exhaust pipe of a diesel engine was made to the General
Purposes Committee in July. The Committee decided to serve a notice
on the occupier to abate the nuisance and to carry out such work as may
be necessary to prevent the recurrence. However, the diesel engine in
question was not used for several months and it is now noted that the
premises are for sale.
FOOD HYGIENE
During this year 2,350 visits have been made to the various food premises
in the East Barnet Urban District. These visits show an increase
over the visits made in 1957 by 240. The number of visits made year by
year varies slightly for no particular reason. It will be seen that the increase
in the number of visits has been mainly to restaurants and snack bars
and butchers shops. These two types of premises do in fact require more
frequent inspections than any of the other trades. Not necessarily because
the traders themselves are more careless but that the trades themselves in
have more factors requiring closer attention.
In spite of the fact that the Food Hygiene Regulations, 1955, have now
been in force for three years it is still necessary to remind assistants in
food shops and canteen workers of the importance of observing hygienic
practices at all times when handling open food.
Only too often the food trader himself does not realise that careless
handling occurs in his shop. Those who come in to buy are often in a
better position to notice the habits of those serving.
Too often does one see fingers licked before picking up a square of
greaseproof paper or the blowing on a paper bag to open it. These matters
could be and I believe to some extent are dealt with by the fastidious
shopper. On the other hand the assistant or shopkeeper is not always
at fault. Some customers show complete disregard of the most elementary
rules of hygiene. A cigarette with long ash held in the hand which is
indicating a particular joint in a butcher's window is not an uncommon
sight, whilst the desire of some customers to handle several joints or
several pieces of fish before making a purchase is the careful shopkeeper's
nightmare.
Page Twenty-five