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and publicity. Whilst many of the services of the Council relating
to public health were continued on much the same lines as in former
years, new spheres of effort are constantly opening in this work and
adding interest and variety to the Department's activities. Such
recent new activities relate to the Clean Air legislation of 1956,
the new food hygiene regulations and increased provision for old
people in various ways. On the other hand, long established
methods are constantly being revised in the light of new knowledge
and of new aids.
The Council's decision in 1955 to accept responsibility for a
very large share in the clearance and redevelopment of slum property
in the Borough has meant a busy year for the Council's Housing
Inspectors. During the year, apart from individual unfit houses,
I represented a total of 255 properties for slum clearance,
including the representations of the first part of the Glyndon
Redevelopment Scheme comprising 100 properties in Ann Street.
Further important progress in the housing sphere was made by the
Council during the year despite the difficulties in finding
sufficient land on which to build. This problem, although with the
Council now for some years, became pressing with the final completion
of the Coldharbour Estate. It is being partially solved by higher
density development incorporating flats of the most modern design0
The Food Hygiene Regulations made under the new Food and Drugs
Act were brought into force on the 1st January, 1956. All food
shops in the Borough were given notice of the changes in the law
which were designed to reduce the risk of infection and to bring
about stricter hygienic practices. Improvements at a number of
food shops were carried out during the year at the instigation of the
Department, and the co-operation of the shop-keepers has been
encouraging. After a year's operation of the Regulations, there are
signs in the Borough that traders are raising their standards.
However, whilst it is fitting that attention should be concentrated
on the more important hygienic conditions and practices of food shops,
restaurants, and canteens, the part played by the family, and
especially the housewife, in preventing illness within the family,
must not be forgotten. The dangers of the unwitting infection of
food by the germs responsible for food poisoning, dysentery and
other infections after it has reached the home are ever present.
The proper protection of food and the regular washing of hands are
still the best safeguards.
The long-awaited and important new Clean Air legislation, which
will ultimately have far reaching effects on us all, became operative
towards the end of the year, and the Borough Council quickly decided
that it would make use of its powers for the setting up of smoke
control areas. The Council had already had valuable experience in
the past two years in connection with the St. Mary's "Smokeless Area"
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