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(30)
OTHER INFESTATIONS.
The Department is frequently asked for advice ana assistance in connection
with insect infestations and during this year has dealt with some one hundred and
ninety-five enquiries, the majority of which concerned wasps. In fact, some
one hundred and thirty-two wasps nests were destroyed on privately owned properties
and on the Council's own lands. A small charge is made for this service to
householders.
The other infestations cover a variety of things, e.g. "beetles, ants, cockroaches,
flies, silver fish, woodworm and bugs.
We are assisted in the identification of some of these insects by the British
Museum (Natural History Section) the staff of which give prompt answers to our
queries.
CLEAN AIR ACT. 1956.
The Council's twenty-year programme to bring the whole district under Smoke
Control Orders continues without serious hitches.
The No. 2 Smoke Control Order was submitted to the Minister in December 1960,
and this was confirmed, without alteration, in April 1961; the operative date
being fixed as 30th September 1962, after which it will be an offence to discharge
smoke from a domestic chimney.
So soon as an Order is confirmed circular letters are sent to every house in
the area concerned, stating the effect of the Order and the procedure necessary to
claim the ~/QF/o grant on the reasonable costs of conversion of fireplaces. By
the end of the year one householder had obtained approval for proposed works, had
carried out the works satisfactorily and was paid the grant.
Unfortunately one person executed works before obtaining the Council's
approval and no grant was paid. It cannot be too strongly emphasised that
approval of proposals must be obtained ^efore any works are commenced. The
office procedure has been arranged,with the assistance of authority from the
Council, so that in straightforward cases approval can be given within twenty-four
hours of application.
The Council, as the owner of houses, had placed contracts for major