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a specialised technical paper concerned with mould growth in the
bottling room of a factory in the town and this was very much
appreciated by the Divisional Meeting of his Professional Association.
9. INDUSTRIAL NUISANCES. The Council have continued
to be faced with problems under this heading, particularly with
regard to noise. Wembley can be considered fortunate in that there
are none of the well-known industries characterised by noise which
can be audible over a large area, but noise which is localised in
comparatively small areas has been a source of annoyance and complaint
in a number of instances.
Section 313 of the Middlesex County Council Act, 1944, provides
that a noise nuisance shall be deemed to exist where any person
makes or continues or causes to be made or continued any excessive
or unreasonable or unnecessary noise which is injurious or dangerous
to health. There is a defence clause which provides that it shall be
a good defence for the person charged to show that he has used the
best practicable means of preventing or mitigating the nuisance
having regard to the cost and to other relevant circumstances. This
section is framed in such a way as to make its application not easy
and the Council are alive to its limitations. Nevertheless every effort
is made to secure abatement of such nuisances and generally factory
managements are co-operative to this end.
One particular instance of noise and vibration caused by air
compressors has engaged the attention of the Council for several
years but has not yet been finally resolved. The Company owning
the compressors have spared no expense in obtaining the best technical
advice and making alterations and improvements in an endeavour to
suppress the noise and vibration. Unfortunately this is one of those
cases in which residential property is contiguous with an industrial
zone and it would have been far better if heavy machinery of this
nature had been sited elsewhere. A further point which aggravates
the situation is that the plant must run continuously day and night.
In other cases greater success has been achieved. For example,
one factory working day and night shifts had a dust extraction plant
largely in the open air at the rear of the building which faced
residential property. This plant caused considerable disturbance
to the residents, particularly at night. The Company were approached
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