London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Penge 1959
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Penge]
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20
Your Inspectors obtained 54 informal samples of milk, the Analyst
reporting all samples to be genuine.
The following is a summary of applications received under the provisions of the Act and subsequent action arising therefrom:—
| Certificates of Disrepair applications under the 1957 Act | 11 |
| Notices of proposal to issue certificates served | 10 |
| Number of Certificates of Disrepair issued | 4 |
| Number of copies of undertakings to carry out repairs received | 10 |
| Number of Certificates cancelled | 14 |
It will be noted that the use of the repair machinery of the Act is little
used.
Experience obtained as a result of house-to-house inspection shows that
tenants could make much greater use of the Act to secure repair of houses.
Possibly the reasons for the present position are in some cases the landlord has
elected not to take advantage of the increased rent provisions of the Act, and
some tenants feel that to do so might prejudice their security of tenure at some
future date.
FACTORIES ACTS, 1937 and 1938
Visits paid to factories totalled 274, and in addition to verbal intimations
regarding small defects, two written notices were served and complied with.
These dealt mainly with insufficient and defective sanitary conveniences and
want of cleanliness.
Notices were received in respect of 19 Penge residents who were employed
in certain trades in their own homes but working for occupiers of factories in
other districts. In no case was it found that work was being done in unwholesome
premises.
CLEAN AIR ACT, 1956
During the year the Council decided in principle to agree to the whole of
the Urban District being made a Smoke Control Area within the next ten
years, and as a first step gave instructions for a detailed survey of the first
area to be dealt with to be carried out. In October a successful "Cleaner Air
Exhibition " was held at the Town Hall.
PREVENTION OF DAMAGE BY PESTS ACT, 1949
Complaints numbering 266 regarding rats and mice were received from all
parts of the district and investigated.
In several cases it was found that defective drains and sewers were
associated with rat infestations and the keeping of animals contributed to the
number of rat infestations. When considered necessary the drainage systems
of the premises were tested with smoke and colour and any defects found made
good.