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25
BOMBED SITES
Most of the bombed sites in the Borough have now been built on or converted into recreation grounds.
The Health Department continue to deal with nuisances, such at rats or refuse, on the remaining sites.
DISINFESTATION
The Sanitary Inspectors inspect verminous premises and supervise the work of the disinfestors
employed by the Council (section 83 of the Public Heealth Act, 1936). There was a slight increase in this
work as compared with the previous year.
(a) Verminous premises:
Council properties 25
County Council properties
Private properties 123
Total 148
(b) Verminous rooms:*
Council properties 55
County Council properties
Private properties 270
Total 325
*Some rooms are treated more than once.
(c) Bedding materials 27
(d) Miscellaneous:
Beetles 12
Ants 8
Bluebottles 1
Since 1948 the disinfection and disinfestation of bed linen has been carried out at the Neasden
Hospital (section 84 of the Public Health Act, 1936). The agreed charge was based on a proportion of the
wages of the Hospital Management Committee's attendant engaged on the work and the cost of operating
the steam disinfector at the hospital. Transport was provided by the Council.
The Hospital Management Committee reviewed staffing arrangements in July, and suggested that
they would continue to disinfect or disinfest bed linen at the hospital, but the Council should undertake the
remainder of the work (disinfection of rooms, collection of clothing and bedding for treatment and delivery
after treatment) carried out by the attendant. The Council agreed to do this and the existing scheme ended
on the 5th December.
RODENT CONTROL
Rodent control, as approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (Infestation Branch), has
been carried out in the properties below: —
Business premises 246
Borough Council properties 9
Private dwellings 978
Total 1,233
at the following cost:
Business premises £1,300 14s. od.
Private dwellings £1,830 4s. 7d.
Total £3,130 18s. 7d.
The cost of disinfestation at business premises is recovered from the occupiers, and in 1955, 105
had an annual agreement with the Council for regular inspection and disinfestation; 14 were new agreements
and 91 were renewals. The service is free to occupiers of private dwellings, but the Borough Council
recovers 50% of the cost from the Ministry
Rodent control in the Council's sewers is carried out by the Borough Engineer's Department.
Where surface rat infestation is due to faulty connections in house drainage systems, the Borough
Engineer's Department arranges for opening the pavement.