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The public mortuary in Sunbury Street continues to be available for the
reception of other bodies.
Burial of the Dead.
Eight burials were arranged under Section 50 of the National Assistance Act,
1948, these being carried out by the Council's contractor.
The total expenses incurred in respect of cases dealt with by the Council during
the year was £71 14s. 9d. of which £26 6s. 9d. was recovered from the Estates of
the deceased persons.
The cost of a funeral varies slightly, the average cost for an adult being about
£11.
Joint Crematorium : Eltham Cemetery.
During the year considerable progress was made towards the establishment of
a joint crematorium at Eltham Cemetery. A crematorium had been proposed before
the last war, and during 1953 negotiations took place between the Borough Council
and the Minister of Housing and Local Government for consent to proceed with
a joint scheme. In October, 1953, the Minister agreed to the scheme, which
includes the Boroughs of Woolwich, Greenwich, Bexley, Dartford and Erith, and
the Urban District Councils of Chislehurst and Sidcup and Crayford.
The scheme provides that the whole of the appropriate functions and duties
of the respective authorities be delegated to a Joint Committee, to be called the
Woolwich, Greenwich and North-West Kent Joint Crematorium Committee. The
Committee has been formed and comprises representatives of the participating
authorities. The land and buildings will remain vested in the Borough Council,
and the Council would also raise the necessary loan and finance the scheme on
behalf of the Joint Committee.
In consultation with the other authorities a revision of the origmal design of the
Crematorium has been carried out by the Borough Engineer. The Crematorium
has been planned in an " L " shape with the main access running East to West.
A sunken garden is incorporated in the angle between the two arms.
The Joint Committee will be wholly responsible for the management and
maintenance of the Crematorium. Building is to commence as soon as possible.
Street Cleansing.
Each main thoroughfare is cleansed daily, secondary roads twice weekly and
district roads once weekly.
There are 86 street sweepers employed on the work and, in addition, a mechanican
sweeper and sprinkler is used to sweep the roads in the shopping areas adjacent
to Powis Street, Plumstead High Street and Eltham High Street.
Over 9,000 street gullies are cleansed periodically by mechanical gully cleansing
machines.
House and Trade Refuse.
During the year under review. 46,784 tons of refuse were collected by the
Council's vehicles and 56,192 tons disposed of at the Council's Refuse Destructor.
The difference between the two weights is largely the quantity of refuse delivered
10 the Refuse Destructor from the Royal Arsenal and Army Barracks. Material
salvaged during the year amounted to 1,788 tons at a value of £6,735. In addition,
1,602 tons of kitchen waste was collected within the Borough.
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