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Eltham Lunch Club. This Club operates from the Woolwich Labour Party
Hut in Well Hall Road. A new departure was made at Eltham by asking old
people to register as members. Eighty old people registered on the opening and
within a very short time the number had risen to 226. The decision to limit the number
of meals served to 50 a day was made in the first instance because of limited space
at the hut, but it was soon evident that more meals were required. The meals are
supplied by the County Council restaurant in Eltham High Street at a price of
1s. 2d., and are transported to the hut by the Borough Council staff. As at the
Plumstead Club, the old people pay 8d. for their meal. The Eltham Club is managed
by a paid supervisor and there are 20 voluntary helpers who serve the meals and
wash the dishes. The Club is open on six days a week and the average number of
meals served daily is 1,300. The Borough Council has also made a grant of £286
for the working of this Club.
Certain of the office work connected with the two Clubs is carried out from
the office of the Woolwich Council of Social Service, although the domestic details
and day-to-day management are in the hands of the supervisors.
Atmospheric Pollution.
Investigations on atmospheric pollution were continued throughout the year
and altogether 694 observations were carried out. Fifty-seven complaints were
received and seven intimation notices and four statutory notices were served.
Regular visits to various factories giving cause for complaint have been made and
the advice given has in several cases produced improvement. However, complaints
continue to be received.
Complaints of carbon dust emitted from a factory in the Plumstead area resulted
in many visits to the factory by officers of the Council during 1951. Various suggestions
made by the Council's Health Committee to mitigate this trouble have been
acted upon by the factory owner, including the installation of special machinery
and apparatus to deal with the dust. The matter continues to be carefully watched
for any breach of the statutory provisions. However, in the view of the Council,
the only complete solution to the problem appears to be for the factory to be removed
from what is now a zoned residential area to an industrial area.
An intimation notice was served upon the occupiers of one of the largest factory
premises in the Borough in respect of a nuisance caused by the emission of smoke
from the factory chimneys. The nature and usage of the Company's coal supplies
and the operating instructions in force in their main boiler-house were investigated.
An electronic smoke detecting device designed to give audible warning when excess
smoke is being discharged is to be installed by the Company.
Observations of a factory in the Abbey Wood area situate near the railway
station have been carried out by the Council's smoke inspector. Complaints of
smoke have been made from time to time and during the year the station staff and
passengers using this station complained of the fumes being emitted from the factory.
Improvements in the plant used have been made, but the complaints still persist
and notices have been served on the Company.
Complaints of industrial smoke and grit from a factory on the riverside were
also investigated. The excessive smoke was thought to be due to the removal for
repair of the firm's mechanical stoker. Investigations with regard to the nuisance
continue.
At the National Smoke Abatement Society's annual conference, a resolution
was passed expressing appreciation of the action of the Government in ensuing that
approved fuel-burning appliances only are installed in houses built, either by local
authorities or by private builders under licence. The Conference urged the prohibition
or active discouragement of the manufacture and sale of appliances that
do not meet minimum standards of efficiency.
The Borough Council considered these resolutions and informed the Society
that all possible measures are taken within the Borough to counteract the smoke
nuisance and to secure that approved solid fuel-burning fires are installed in new
houses built in the Borough.
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