View report page

Notices served under Section 93 of the Public Health Act, 1930,
in connection with essential repairs to houses. In one case the
summons was withdrawn as the work had been carried out and
the Magistrates dealt with the remaining cases in the following
manner:—
6 weeks' Nuisance Order made and Council awarded 10/6d.
costs;
2 months' Nuisance Order made and Council awarded
£1 l1s. 6d. costs;
28 days' Nuisance Order made, defendant fined £2 and Council
awarded £3 3s. 0d. costs.
9. FACTORIES ACT, 1937. The types of industries in the
Borough have remained materially the same for the past few
years and there has been very little extension; indeed, the development
of the area has reached the point that there is very little
land left for industrial purposes. Details of inspections are to be
found in the statistical appendix. 622 visits to outworkers'
premises were made during the year but a great many of the
premises which were notified on the statutory lists were found
to have ceased to be used for homework.
10. INDUSTRIAL NUISANCES. Last year's report dealt
in some detail with the problems arising under this heading and
the results which had been achieved up to that time. Since then
some further progress has been made but owing to the siting
of some factories in relation to dwellinghouses and the nature
of the work carried on it is difficult to see how to afford complete
satisfaction to the residents in the light of present-day
scientific knowledge and of the costs of applying remedies. It is
interesting to record that a balancing gear which was fitted to a
large four-stage horizontal compressor proved quite effective in
overcoming vibration and that when the balancing gear was taken
out of commission for adjustment fresh complaints were received
of vibration in nearby houses; as soon as the balancing gear was
reinstated the apparent vibrations ceased.
In one case of noise from a wood working factory the Council
sought the advice of the Department of Scientific and Industrial
Research and. the suggestions made were passed on to the factory
management. Some of the suggestions, including the sealing of
gaps round windows and doors and keeping the windows and doors
closed as much as possible, were acted upon, in addition to which
use was made of stacks of timber to act as a baffle between the
factory building and nearby houses.
29