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ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
Offensive trades
Section 107
Public Health
Act 1936
No offensive trades were operating in the borough during the year.
Inspections and complaints
The public health inspectors paid 54,732 visits to premises, including dwelling houses, business
industrial and food premises. A housing survey carried out on behalf of the Department of the Environment
to ascertain the condition of housing stock within the area necessitated a substantial
increase in the number of visits by inspectors to dwelling houses.
Although many matters were resolved without serving notices, it was found necessary to serve 317
informal and 259 statutory notices in respect of defects in dwelling houses and food premises.
Although in most cases repairs were effected, legal proceedings were instituted in three instances.
Of the 10,182 complaints and requests for visits, 2,727 were notifications of blocked or defective
drains. Although owners are responsible for clearing drains the Council provides a service designed to
eliminate possible hazards to public health. See Tables (38) and (39)
Noise
Complaints of nuisance from noise have continued during the year, ranging from noisy loudspeakers
at auction sales to noise from industrial plant in factories. In many cases a great amount of upheaval
and costly alteration might be saved if the possible noise from the machine when operating was given
greater consideration at the design stage, and also if the siting and installation of the machine in the
factory were given detailed consideration.
In contracts for civil engineering work made by the Council an assurance is sought that noise levels
from machinery will be within the standards laid down in the report of the Committee on the Problem
of Noise, and checks are made to ensure that a contractor can meet these standards.
An example of the assistance given to other departments of the Council is an assessment of the noise
levels from major road traffic likely to be experienced on a proposed new housing development, in
order that preventive action may be taken.
Disinfestation
Sections 83-86
Public Health Act
1936 as amended
by Sections 35-37
Public Health Act
1961
The Council is empowered to deal with filthy or verminous persons, premises and articles.
Facilities are provided for the cleansing and treatment of scabetic and verminous persons at the
Council's treatment centre, Knights Lane, Edmonton, N.9. During the year 129 persons were treated:
128 for scabies and one for pubic lice. One hundred and nineteen requests for treatment of verminous
premises were dealt with and 62 garments and articles of bedding were disinfested at the Council's
disinfecting station. References to other work undertaken at this station are contained in the item
"Disinfection" in this report.
Pest control
Rats and mice
Prevention of
Damage by Pests
Act 1949
Where premises are infested by rats or mice the occupier is required to notify the local authority and
take such steps as are necessary to control the infestation. The Health Department provides a rodent
control service which is available to householders and occupiers of business premises. No charge is
made for this service in respect of domestic premises. The majority of rat infestations are attributable
to defective drains and sewers. Although there were no major infestations during the year, 8,536 visits
were made by rodent control staff and 558 visits by public health inspectors in connection with
rodent control. In all, 2,705 premises were visited.
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