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from official funds to help in this work.
Home Visitation
Regular friendly visits are made by the Visitors of the Council
of Social Service and also Visitors from local Churches, to the homes
of lonely persons in the district. During 1956 the Council of
Social Service were able to extend their friendly visiting scheme
following the appointment of a new assistant caseworker, who was
able to undertake initial visits herself and to deal with other
personal services for the elderly. Visitors make a special point
of seeing how the needs of the person visited can best be met.
Matters such as extra clothing, provision of books and other comforts
are dealt with, and enquiries made of the need for spectacles,
chiropody treatment, and on other health matters.
The Old People's Welfare Committee of the Woolwich Council of
Social Service co-ordinates the activities of the various voluntary
organisations in the Borough engaged in giving help and assistance
to elderly persons, receiving a substantial grant from the Borough
Council towards this work,
STREET CLEANSING
There are 149 miles of roads to be cleansed of which 15 per
cento are swept at least once daily, 20 per cent. three to five
times weekly, 55 per cent. twice weekly and 10 per cent. once weekly.
There are 86 street sweepers employed on the work, and, in
addition a mechanical 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 9,300 street gulleys are cleansed periodically by mechanical
galley cleansing machines.
HOUSE AND TRADE REFUSE
During the year under review, 45,988 tons of refuse were
collected by the Council's vehicles and 54,360 tons disposed of at
the Council's Refuse Destructor. The difference between the two
weights is largely the quantity of refuse delivered to the Refuse
Destructor from the Royal Arsenal and Army Barracks. Some 1,400
tons of scrap metal, 450 tons of waste paper and 125 tons of
textiles and other material were salvaged during the year, producing
an income of over £9,500.
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