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75
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICE
The work of the Public Health Inspector may be divided into five
main parts viz.: House Inspection; Inspection and Supervision of other
premises; Inspection and Supervision of food and food premises; matters
arising from the Clean Air Act and measures to control certain infections.
Housing
Housing standards continue to improve due (i) to more and more
properties becoming owner occupied; (ii) to the grants that are available
for the improvement of properties and (iii) the repair and reconditioning
work resulting from the Housing Act 1969.
The position in respect of overcrowding also improved—the number
of cases of statutory overcrowding registered at the end of the year being
four.
Other Premises
The inspection and supervision of other premises and places while
revealing progress and improved conditions in many local offices, in
shops and in working conditions generally was woefully lacking in any
forward movement towards an environment free of litter and rubbish.
The following is an extract from the Annual Report of 1968.
"Unfortunately, the apathy of so many individuals to the presence
of litter and waste prevents it being recorded that the problems of rubbish
dumping (a subject referred to in Annual Reports over many years) have
been overcome. Alas, in spite of the efforts that have been made and the
publicity drives exhorting individuals to "Keep Britain Tidy", the
quantity of litter and waste material in hedgerows, on common land, and
on undeveloped sites is as great as ever.
Rubbish and litter, plus the problems they bring in their wake, namely
rats and flies, are among the unsolved health hazards of the age".
The position is similar today.
Food Hygiene
The work undertaken pursuant to the Food and Drugs Act and Food
Hygiene Regulations was rewarding and the inspections made revealed
in the main satisfactory progress. The result of the efforts made to improve
standards of Food Hygiene of those traders attending Pinner Fair was
particularly pleasing and I would like to record my appreciation for the
help we received in this matter from the Showmens' Guild.
Clean Air
In the field of Clean Air two further Smoke Control Orders came
into operation. There appears to be no reason why the completion of
the Council's programme by the end of 1975—the target set in 1960—
should not be achieved.