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45
Rats and Mice.
The complaints received about rats and mice totalled 1,453 and
infestations were found at 1,262 of the premises visited. The infestations
were generally small and localised. Of the 1,453 complaints 888 were
received between March 1st and July 31st.
Most of them were from private dwelling houses, 1,222 about rats and
42 about mice; 16 infestations of rats and two of mice were at Corporation
properties and 143 rat infestations and 28 of mice were at business premises.
The number of complaints received during the three previous years:
1,632, 1,690 and 1,296.
The practice of feeding wild birds and pets in the gardens of private
houses, without taking suitable precautions against rodents, does much to
encourage rats to an area and it is surprising that so many of these well
meaning people also keep litter and lumber in sheds and thus provide not
only the food for the rodents but the cover they need for nesting and
breeding. Very little evidence of infestations occurring in sewers was
found and those known to be infested or were suspect, were treated by a
specialist firm during April and May.
The watercourses in the Borough were surveyed periodically and
regular treatments were carried out where any evidence of rats was found.
Wasps.
Complaints about wasps nests totalled 244 and 196 nests were
destroyed by the department. The remaining 48 nests were either dealt
with privately or it was found that no treatment was necessary.
CLEAN AIR
Smoke Control.
At the end of the year Smoke Control Orders Nos: 1,2 and 3 affecting
some 4,367 domestic dwellings in an area of 462 acres, were in operation.
The Borough of Harrow Smoke Control (No. 4) Order had been confirmed
the Minister of Housing and Local Government and will become
operative on the 1st July, 1963. This will affect an area of 208 acres,
containing 1,559 domestic dwellings. A further Order (No. 5) was made in
November and the Minister's confirmation is awaited. This affects an
area of 212 acres and a further 1,697 domestic dwellings.
It is hoped that by the end of 1963 the whole of the Roxeth and
Roxbourne wards of the Borough, 1,133 acres with 8,999 dwellings
(7,929 privately owned, 970 owned by the Corporation) will be the subject
of operative Smoke Control Orders. This will mean that out of a total of
65,342 dwellings in the Borough about 13.77% will be within areas
ected by Smoke Control Orders. A significant start has, therefore, been
made in the implementation of the Clean Air Act, 1956.