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18
SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AREA
Water
The Metropolitan Water Board and the Colne Valley Water Company supply Willesden with water
of excellent quality.
Sewage and Drainage
Most of the sewage of the Borough is discharged into the London County Council main sewers,
but a small amount from the Park Royal area is discharged into the West Middlesex Main Drainage system,
Refuse Disposal
The Borough Engineer's department deals with the provision of dust-bins.
House refuse is collected weekly; trade refuse as often as required at an agreed charge. The
refuse is disposed of by controlled tipping at Twyford.
Household Arrangements
The County Report of Middlesex (Census 1951; see Annual Report for 1953), reveals Willesden's
housing problems as compared with the rest of the County. Willesden was developed first in the County,
and so has the oldest property with all the usual defects.
Shared Dwellings and Overcrowding
There is a much higher proportion of households in shared dwellings (six out of ten) than for
the average of the County (three out of ten) and Greater London (four out of ten); it is much higher than
that of England and Wales (two out of ten).
The number of persons per room is higher than that of Greater London, England and Wales, and
any district in the County, and the percentage of population and of households at densities over 1½ and 2
persons per room is the highest in the County, in some instances the percentage is more than double.
Bathrooms
The proportion of households either sharing or without a fixed bath (six out of ten) is almost
double that of the average of the County, and is much higher than that of Greater London and England and
Wales (about four out of ten).
The proportion sharing or without a water closet, cooking stove or a kitchen sink is higher than
the average of the County of Middlesex.
Gardens
Willesden is poorly equipped with public open spaces, 242 acres compared with an estimated need
of 1,313 acres; yet one in four families have no garden at all, and a large number have to share a garden.

SANITARY SECTION
Staff
The authorised establishment of Sanitary Inspectors was increased by one in June, 1954, and is
now one Chief Sanitary Inspector, one Deputy Chief Sanitary Inspector, 18 District Sanitary Inspectors
and 5 Pupil Sanitary Inspectors.
The Council adopted the London scale of salaries for Sanitary Inspectors in January, 1954, and
the three vacancies which existed at the beginning of the year and the additional post were filled. There
were no resignations during the year.
Five Pupil Sanitary Inspectors were on the staff in 1954.
The Rodent Officer and three operatives were employed in the destruction of rats and mice on bomb
sites and waste-lands and in dwelling houses, factories and other industrial buildings. Two labourers
were employed on vermin disinfestation, drain-testing, and general duties.
Sanitary Inspection of the Area
The main aim of the Council is to try and preserve property which, if neglected, will deteriorate
into slums and then require demolition. Far too often, tenants inform the Public Health Department only
when the defects are serious and costly to remedy.