View report page

The Council's refuse destructor tips are treated monthly.
The Sanitary Inspector in charge of this work is assisted by four rodent
operatives and also by two investigators who make the initial inspection to assess
the extent of infestation.
The Council's work relating to the destruction of rats and mice is subsidised
by a grant of 50 per cent. approved net expenditure from the Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries.
An Order in Council applying the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act to shipping,
with appropriate modifications, came into operation during the year. The duties
of local authorities in relation to rats and mice on land were extended to include
the requirement to secure, as far as practicable, that any vessel in their district
that is not a sea-going ship is kept free from rats and mice. Powers of entry and
inspection are afforded and it is the duty of those in control of such vessels which
are rat infested to notify the local authority.
Rag and Bone Bye-laws.
During 1951 the Council instituted proceedings against a man for an offence
against the London County Council Bye-laws respecting the business of rag and
bone dealer. He was seen by a police constable at Ealdham Square, Eltham, to
exchange toys with small children for bundles of old rags. A fine of 10s. 0d. was
imposed.
Rag Flock.
The former Rag Flock legislation has now been repealed and consolidated in
the Rag Flock and Other Filling Materials Act, 1951, which makes it an offence to
use unclean filling materials. Premises where upholstery is carried out are required
to be registered and licences are granted to manufacturers of rag flock and to
occupiers of rag flock stores. It is an offence to purchase rag flock from unlicensed
premises. Occupiers of registered and licensed premises are required to
keep records of all filling materials received at or sent from the premises.
One application was received for the issue of a licence to manufacture rag
flock and three applications for registration of premises. These applications were
all approved.
Regulations made under the Act prescribe tests and fix the amount of the fees
which may be charged by an analyst making a test. The analyses of samples of
rag flock must now be undertaken by a Prescribed Analyst. For many years the
analysis of such samples obtained in the Borough was carried out by the Council's
Public Analyst. Satisfactory reports were received from him on four samples
of rag flock analysed before the coming into force of the new legislation.
Offensive Trades.
During the year the Council approved an application for the renewal of one
tripe boiler licence. There is one other offensive trade, that of slaughterer of poultry,
carried on in the Borough. The Council have approved the re-establishment of
this business.
Mosquito Control.
Although during the year fewer complaints were received of mosquitoes in the
marshland areas at Abbey Wood, spraying operations of stagnant ponds, marsh
ditches and allotment holders' water butts were again carried out in early summer
as a preventive measure.
Common Lodging Houses.
These are licensed annually by the Borough Council, in accordance with the
provisions of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936. There are now only two
licensed Common Lodging Houses in the Borough. The number of inspections
made during the year was 16. Details of the accommodation available are as
follows:—
Premises. Accommodation.
60, Beresford Street 50 (Men)
102, Woolwich High Street 22 (Men)
16