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Free Washing Facilities in Public Conveniences.
During 1950 the Council approved a Committee recommendation that free
washing facilities, in addition to the paid service, be provided at five of the largest
men's public conveniences and six of the women's conveniences in the Borough.
This became operative during 1951 and instructions were issued to the attendants
to ensure that the service was made readily available to the public, without the
necessity of having to approach the attendant. The arrangements are working
satisfactorily.
Public Conveniences.
Fourteen conveniences for men and a similar number for women are maintained
throughout the area, hours of opening and closing varying with local requirements.
In the town centre, for example, the conveniences are open from 5.30 a.m. Normally,
however, this service is available between the hours of 6.30 a.m. and 11 p.m. These
conveniences were inspected regularly during the year.
The information regarding the street cleansing, refuse disposal and public
conveniences, has been kindly supplied by the Borough Engineer.
Public Baths and Washhouses.
The Council has four bathing establishments in the Borough. A full description
of this service, which includes swimming baths, slipper baths, Turkish baths and
massage, wash-houses and the use of the premises for social and sporting activities
during the winter months, was included in my Annual Report for 1919. Seventy-one
samples of bath water were submitted for bacteriological examination to the Public
Health Laboratory service and no unsatisfactory reports were received. At the
same time as the samples were obtained, the Department carried out its own tests
for free chlorine estimation. Colorimetric tests for the pH value were also carried
out.
HOUSING
In December, 1951, there were estimated to be 39,105 houses in the Borough.
The number inspected for housing defects under the Public Health or Housing Acts
was 11,238, compared with 14,849 in the previous year. The number found not
to be in all respects reasonably fit for habitation was 2,243. Some 1,028 houses
were rendered fit in consequence of informal action by the Sanitary Inspectors,
including the service of intimation notices.
House-to-house inspections were carried out under the Housing (Consolidated)
Regulations, 1925, 382 dwelling houses being inspected under these Regulations in
1951.
Overcrowding.
The Council is under an obligation, upon application being made by either
landlord or occupier, to give in writing the permitted number of persons in respect
of any dwelling house, and measurements were taken of dwellings on 718 occasions,
compared with 640 in 1950. In all, 97 families were found to be living in overcrowded
conditions. Overcrowding reports were made to the London County Council
on behalf of these persons and in 47 cases other accommodation was obtained.
Individual Unfit Houses.
Twenty-three houses were represented during the year as being unfit for human
habitation and incapable of being made fit at reasonable expense, and formal
notices were served on the owners under the provisions of the Housing Acts, 19361949.
After consideration of each case Demolition Orders were made by the Council
in respect of ten of these houses and undertakings not to use the premises for human
habitation were accepted in respect of the remaining thirteen houses. Formal
action under the Housing Acts was also being taken at the end of the year in respect
of a further three individual unfit houses.
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