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As a result of flooding which took place in June 1963 an investigation is being carried out with a
view to preparing a scheme for alleviating flooding in the Dollis valley drainage area at Mill Hill East.
During the course of their inspections of properties, the Public Health Inspectors are constantly
on the look-out for incorrect connections of wastepipes from sinks and lavatory basins to surface water
drainage systems which lead to pollution of the watercourses. During the year 23 such connections were
found and dealt with either by having fitments removed or by having the waste-pipes diverted to the soil
drainage system.
LOCAL LAND CHARGES ENQUIRIES
During the year, enquiries were received from the Town Clerk in respect of 3814 properties. These
related to any action being taken under the Public Health, Housing and Rent Acts, inclusion in Smoke
Control Areas and in Housing Areas (areas scheduled for redevelopment). The necessary enquiries or
inspections were made and the information supplied.
SCAVENGING OF PRIVATE PASSAGES AND ACCOMMODATION ROADS'-
During the year it was necessary for 321 visits to be paid by the Public Health Inspectors to private
passages running at the rear of houses and to accommodation roads in connection with complaints as to
their unscavenged condition.
Very few of these passages and roads have been taken over by the Council, paved and made highways
maintainable at public expense. The scavenging of the great majority therefore remains the responsibility
under the Public Health Act, 1936, of the occupiers of the premises to which the passages etc. afford access.
In eleven instances the efforts of the Public Health Inspectors to secure scavenging by verbal and
written intimations w ere unsuccessful and it became necessary for the Council to carry out the work in default
and to proceed to recover the cost from the occupiers of the premises concerned.
I would again draw attention to the difficulty which arises in attempting to deal with obstructions
which occur in the usually three feet wide passages between the rear gardens of houses which are used by
the refuse collectors for the removal of refuse from the houses. Neglected fences are sometimes allowed to
to lean or collapse over the passages, or trees to overhang, so obstructing the refuse collectors in their
work, sometimes to an extent that the use of the passage has to be discontinued and refuse collection made
from the front of the houses through which the full bins have to be carried by the householders.
Much is done informally by the Public Health Inspectors to deal with the owners of the fences and
trees but there does not appear to be any satisfactory statutory power under the Public Health Acts to
require them to keep the passages unobstructed.
I can only re-iterate that, in my opinion, the only satisfactory method of dealing with this problem
of private passages and accommodation roads is the making of them up under Part IX of the Highways
Act, 1959 and their subsequent maintenance and scavenging by the Council.
PEST AND VERMIN CONTROL
During the year, 476 inspections and 247 reinspections were made of premises by the District
Public Health Inspectors to inspect for or give advice on a wide variety of insect pests. Although many of
the insects found have no public health significance the service is one which is greatly appreciated byhouse
wives who frequently become alarmed at the presence of the intruders and at a loss to know their significance
or how to deal with them.
The incidence of vermin (bugs, fleas and lice) is now very low only ten infestations having to be
dealt with. Disinfestation is carried out by one of the Council's rodent operatives who has been trained in
the work.
Wasps nests are also destroyed free of charge, 263 being dealt with during the year.
Routine inspections of the effects of new Council tenants are also carried out prior ro their removal
into their new accommodation, but it is now only very occasionally that any evidence of vermin is found.
In these cases the necessary disinfestation is carried out before removal takes place. 264 inspections were
made during the year.
As a result of action taken in 1962 to reduce the number of pigeons roosting under railway bridges
etc., fewer complaints were received regarding these. One roof turret and one roof were dealt with by
requesting the owners of the properties to board them up to prevent the pigeons entering. This was done
and the nuisances abated.
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