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(13)
BARNET URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL.
CHIEF PUBLIC HEALTH INSPECTOR'S REPORT.
Public Health Department,
31 Wood Street,
Barnet.
To the Chairman and Members of
the Barnet Urban District Council.
I have the honour to present my Annual Report for the year 1961.
The Council's Smoke Control scheme progressed steadily through the
year with the making of two Smoke Control Orders to come into full
operation on 30th September, 1962, and both these Orders were confirmed
by the Minister without alteration.
The survey was started for a fourth area of approximately 674 houses.
We do receive, during the year, enquiries from persons wondering when the
smoke control order will apply to their houses and when they should cease
to order "smoky" coal. We are of course always ready to deal with such
enquiries, but it might be useful to explain again that when it is proposed
to make an area the subject of a smoke control order, all houses in
the area receive a circular letter from the department. During the
next six months or thereabouts, a call is made by an Inspector for the
purpose of estimating the work required, to explain in some detail the way
to claim grant, discuss the smokeless fuels and answer questions from
householders. At a later stage, public notices are posted in the area,
and still later when the Minister confirms the Order, a further circular
letter is sent to all houses, giving details of how to proceed to claim
the 70% grant, for which an application form is enclosed. Overall the
householder receives about two years' notice before an Order comes into
operation, with letters and a visit during that time.
During the year, the department was able to assist in a survey to
ascertain the extent of the contamination of pet foods with Salmonella
organisms, by taking over two hundred samples of horse and other meat
from a local cold store. Further detail is given in the body of this
report.