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The No. 4 (Harlesden) Smoke Control Area covering 210-8 acres with 3,959 dwellings, 399 commercial,
18 industrial and 20 other premises was confirmed by the Council in September and was submitted
to the Minister of Housing and Local Government. One of the industrial premises burns coal, and the Council
decided that it should not be granted exemption from the Order. The proposed date of operation is 1st
October, 1962.
Fifty-eight notifications of the installation of new boiler plant were received in accordance with the
provisions of section 3 of the Clean Air Act.
In accordance with the policy of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research the use of
deposit gauges and lead peroxide candles on six sites in the borough was discontinued at the end of March.
Apparatus for the volumetric analysis of sulphur dioxide in the air was installed at the Willesden County
School, and is operated by science students and masters. The results, together with those obtained from
similar apparatus in the Public Health Department, are sent to the appropriate section of the Department of
Scientific and Industrial Research each month.
The Council is represented on an Inter-borough Smoke Control Liaison Committee, which includes
delegates form Hammersmith, Fulham, Brentford and Chiswick. Acton. Barnes and Richmond Councils, and
meets at Hammersmith Town Hall.
BOMBED SITES
The Health Department continues to deal with nuisances such as rats or refuse on the few remaining
bombed sites in the Borough.
DISINFESTATION
The Public Health Inspectors inspect verminous premises and supervise the work of disinfestors
employed by the Council (section 93 of the Public Health Act, 1936) (Table 33). There was a decrease in
the work compared with the previous year.
The Council provide transport for clothing and bedding requiring disinfection and disinfestation at
the Neasden Hospital (section 84 of the Public Health Act, 1936). The Council's attendant disinfects and
disinfests rooms, and collects and delivers the clothing and bedding.
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 233
Borough Council properties 11
Private dwellings 820
Total 1,064
at the following cost:
Business premises £1,704 6 9d.
Private dwellings £2,203 13 9d.
Total £3,908 0 6d.
The cost of disinfestation at business premises is recovered from the occupiers; 122 had an annual
agreement with the Council for regular inspection and disinfestation, 7 were new agreements and 115 renewals.
The service is free to occupiers of private dwellings.
Rodent control in the Council's sewers is carried out by the Borough Engineer's Department.
Where surface rat infestation is due to faults in the connections of the house drains with the sewer, the
Borough Engineer's Department arranges for opening the pavement.
INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF FOOD AND FOOD PREMISES
The food premises in the borough are inspected regularly by the Public Health Inspectors (Table 34).
The Food Hygiene (General) Regulations, 1960, which came into operation on the 1st October of
that year prescribed standards for the preparation, storage and sale of clean food. There has been a marked
improvement in hygiene in the production and sale of food since the first regulations (The Food Hygiene
Regulations, 1955) came into force on 1st January, 1955.
Public Health Inspectors visit food premises frequently and serve verbal or written notice to improve
the standards of food hygiene. Improvements in some premises are still either in progress or arrangements
are being made for them to be carried out (Tables 35, 36).