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solved, but nevertheless I am satisfied that substantial progress has been made towards
reducing the rate of deposition of dust and grit in the Lea Bridge/Clementina Road Area
to a level which approximates closely with the national average level of atmospheric
pollution in comparable urban areas in London and elsewhere.
The Joint Conference of neighbouring Local Authorities first convened by Leyton
Borough Council in 1956 for the purpose of discussing matters of common interest in
regard to air pollution and exchange of ideas met twice during the year at West Ham and
Ilford. Matters discussed and forwarded to the Minister of Housing and Local Government
for consideration included availability of supplies of smokeless fuel, simplification
of procedure and standard grants for converting or adapting fireplaces, and the
extension of grant provisions to dwellings situated outside the smoke control area.
The conference also decided that a committee of technical officers of the authorities
represented should be convened by the Leyton Borough Council with a view to the introduction
of a standard form of grant procedure and to discuss other matters of a
technical nature.
HEALTH EDUCATION
During the year technical officers of the Health Department gave a number of Health
Education talks to various groups of people and organisations.
Pull advantage is also being taken of the Health Education facilities provided by
the shop windows at 280 High Road, Leyton, E.10. Displays produced and contributed by
the Public Health Inspectors on various aspects of the environmental health services
under the control of the Local Sanitary Authority included air pollution, smoke control,
clean food and food hygiene generally, rodent control and insect pest control, nuisance
abatement and housing.
Further use is now being made of the shop premises by using not only the shop
windows but the shop itself for a full scale clean air and smoke control exhibition as
part of the Council's publicity campaign in relation to the establishment of smoke
control areas.
Health education is not, however, concerned solely with public exhibitions, and
lectures to groups of people. Health education forms a valuable and important part of
a Public Health Inspector's routine day-to-day work on the district; he performs his
statutory duties as a designated officer under the various Acts, Statutory Orders and
Regulations introduced by Parliament to protect the health and welfare of the community
and to promote satisfactory environmental conditions by constant investigations, by
persuasion and by educational methods. In the cause of clean air, clean and safe food,
and the betterment of environmental conditions in houses, shops, factories, workshops,
places of entertainment, etc., and in the promotion of congenial communal relationship
he is continually practising health education in a personal and practical way by giving
advice and instruction on the spot - it is only as a last resort that he uses the
statutory powers by way of legal enforcement.
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