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112
SUPERVISION OF OTHER PREMISES
Reference to the statistical summary at the commencement of this
section of the report will give an indication of the wide field over which
the work of the Health Inspector extends. It is work that is concerned in
almost all its aspects with the raising of standards and the prevention of
conditions likely to affect the health and welfare of the general public. To
these ends, visits are made by the Health Inspector to places of public
entertainment, to shops, to offices and work places, watercourses are
inspected and likewise those centres likely to become attractive to rats and
other vermin. In this same field considerable effort continues to be made
towards improving the condition of the atmosphere and here I refer to the
work undertaken in the creation of Smoke Control Areas. Then, like the
Health Visitor, the Midwife and those other members of the staff of the
Health Welfare and Childrens Department, whose duties bring them into
contact with the public, the Health Inspector plays an important part in
the matter of Health Education.
Reference is made elsewhere in this report to the importance of this
subject for, as with many of the accidents that occur in the home, in the
office and elsewhere, most environmental health problems could, with a
little care and thought, be prevented. Health Education, among other
things, explains how and why.
As regards the environment, reference has been made in successive
Annual Reports since 1963 to the problems associated with the rubbish
and the dumping that occurs throughout the district. The litter and rubbish
that is strewn about many of the rear access roads and open areas within
the Borough is nothing short of a disgrace and a reflection upon the whole
community. The problems and difficulties of securing the clearance of
this rubbish have to be experienced to be believed—issues arise such as
responsibility for payment for the work involved—in the ownership of the
land—whether the rubbish is trade waste or house refuse and whether or
not it is a nuisance.
During May 1967 however authority was given by the Council for rubbish
from certain sites to be cleared and, while this has enabled many areas
to be cleared and has been of real help, a major problem remains. The
provision by the Council of two collection centres, one at the Elmgroye
Road Depot and the other at Rayners Lane, where ratepayers may deposit,
free of charge, waste and rubbish, has also helped, but the biggest step yet
taken in dealing with the rubbish and litter problem is the introduction of
the Civic Amenities Act, 1967.
This Act, among other things, makes provision for the "orderly
disposal of disused vehicles and equipment and other rubbish". Section 18
this Act states "it shall be the duty of a Local Authority to provide places
where refuse, other than refuse falling to be disposed of in the course of a
business, may be deposited at all reasonable times free of charge by persons