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OFFENSIVE TRADES
There is no establishment in the district carrying on an
Offensive Trade.
PREVENTION OF ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION
No serious trouble has occurred during the year from industrial
furnaces. In the absence of proper apparatus in the district for
the measurement of atmospheric pollution it is difficult to assess
accurately whether or not there is a trend in the right direction.
It is safe to say, however, that the emission of industrial smoke
and grit has been considerably reduced in recent years. Moreover,
for some time past all new Council houses have been equipped
with improved type grates capable of burning smokeless fuels.
This type of appliance has also had a very wide sale amongst the
general public and it is certain that if smokeless fuels only were
used in them a valuable contribution towards a cleaner atmosphere
would have been made.
Immediately following the serious fog in December the opportunity
was taken of drawing to the attention of all firms operating
furnaces, and to all women's organisations in the town, the connection
between a smoky atmosphere and a dense, persistent fog
of the type just experienced.
DRAINAGE
Further progress has been made in the abolition of cesspools
and the substitution of pail closets by water closets. The Council
have made generous contributions under Section 47 of the Public
Health Act, 1936, towards the cost of replacing pail closets in
order to encourage the owners of premises to have this work done.
Those premises still relying on cesspool drainage are almost all
situated at a considerable distance from the nearest public sewer
or are premises which have a short life and will be subject to action
under the Housing Act as soon as alternative accommodation can
be offered to the tenants.
The practice of clearing stopped drains, where this can be
done simply by rodding or plunging the drain, has been continued.
No charge is made for this work, but the public health advantages
accruing from it far outweigh the small expense involved. The
service of large numbers of notices has been avoided and, of more
importance, serious nuisances have been abated within an hour or
two of being reported instead of continuing pending the expiry of
the time limit of a Statutory Notice.
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