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CLEAN AIR ACT, 1956
The Clean Air Act, 1956 was passed by the Government during the year, the various
provisions to be brought into operation by Orders laid before Parliament. The first
of these Orders was made in December, 1956 making 31st December,, 1956 the appointed
day for certain provisions of the Act, including the making of smoke control areas.
With the passing of the Act the Council considered a joint report of the Medical
Officer of Health and Borough Treasurer and gave instructions to proceed with the
preliminary work with a view to the Council making a smoke control area in the northwestern
part of the Borough, The proposed area is approximately one square mile in
extent and would comprise of some 628 properties, of which 471 would be municipal
dwellings being erected in the area The Council also gave instructions for consideration
to be given to the establishment of smoke measuring stations in the Borough to
determine the extent of air pollution. If approved these stations would be located
in the northern, central and southern parts of the Borough respectively and would be
established in consultation with the Fuel Research Station. Department of Scientific
and Industrial Research.
SECTION E.
INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF FOOD
Food Hygiene.
Daring the year under review an important advance in Food Hygiene was made with
the coming into force of the Food Hygiene Regulations, 1955 Part of the regulations
operated from 1st January, 1956, the remainder of the provisions operating from
1st July, 1956. These Regulations have resulted in many improvements being carried
out which could not be enforced under previous legislation, involving 81 premises and
1,964 visits to food premises
A large number of these improvements have been achieved by informal action and
co-operation between the Food Traders and the Public Health Inspectors.
The main items dealt with have been the provision of sinks for washing food and
equipment or the provision of personal washing facilities for the staff with hot and
cold water supplies in both cases; the protection of food from risk of contamination
by the provision of suitable screening or covers etc.; the provision of storage
accommodation for workers outdoor clothing; the provision of first aid equipment
and the general improvement of the older type of food premises,
This has meant that a considerable amount of time has been devoted by the
Public Health Inspectors to this part of the work of the Department but it is
gratifying to have achieved these improvements mainly by co-operation In no case
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