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90
OIL HEATERS REGULATIONS AND
HEATING APPLIANCES (FIREGUARDS) REGULATIONS
Visits were made to premises pursuant to these regulations, particular
attention being given to shops selling secondhand appliances. As a result,
several appliances were withdrawn from sale and scrapped.
The London Fire Brigade reported two fires at homes in the Borough
where oil heaters were involved. In each case the cause of the trouble was
found to be due to misuse rather than to any fault or deficiency in the
appliance.
During 1971, 91 complaints concerning noise problems were received,
an increase of 30 over the previous year. These were dealt with by the
giving of advice or by informal action. In no case was it found necessary
to proceed further.
The increase in the number of complaints compared with the previous
year draws attention to the growing awareness of people to intrusive
noise and to the part it plays in their daily lives. It also reveals an
increasing desire to seek a remedy where possible through the Local
Authority. The largest number of complaints (33) concerned the activities
of neighbours, which ranged from late-night "do-it-yourself" operations
to the noise from oil fired boilers. Complaints of this kind are difficult to
resolve, but the enquiries made often resulted in a reduction in the noise
output. Regrettably disputes between neighbours about noise problems
often lead to increasing acrimony whereas experience reveals that much
of the annoyance arising from noise could so easily be avoided by a little
thought and goodwill on the part of those responsible.
NOISE