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64
of housing standards is likely to emerge from the creation of improvement
Areas as provided for by the Housing Act 1969.
With these Areas while the structural condition of properties and
their general state of repair will remain important, factors involving area
layout, the movement of traffic, tree planting, the provision of play and
rest areas and the provision of parking facilities will be issues of paramount
importance. They will call for the most careful planning and the work
undertaken by the Public Health Inspector in the future pursuant to the
Housing Acts will without doubt bring him into much closer contact
with other disciplines and departments of the Council.
Overcrowding
Over a considerable period (since 1949 in fact) the number of cases of
statutory overcrowding in the Borough has fallen year by year. The
number on the register on the 1st January 1972 was 3. However towards
the end of the year as a result of the arrival of Asian families from Uganda
details of 45 additional cases had to be added to the register and the
number of known cases on the 31st December was 48.
While this did not prove to be the peak figure the situation was kept
under constant review and reports were submitted at regular intervals to
the Special Committee set up to deal with matters arising from the
Ugandan Asian problem. The overcrowding existing in the Borough at
the end of 1972 equated with that existing on the 1st January 1960. The
peak figures for overcrowding was reached during 1948 when the register
contained details of 628 cases.
Environmental Standards
The year as regards general standards of environmental hygiene was
disappointing. No marked diminution was to be seen in the amount of
litter and rubbish deposited on undeveloped land or on the highway.
Rubbish and waste at the rear of shops and in accommodation roads was
as much in evidence as ever and in spite of 'KEEP BRITAIN TIDY'
slogans I see no signs of the future bringing about any marked improvement
in this particular field of environmental hygiene. There is no simple
answer or easily found solution to this ever growing problem for while
bulk containers and improved refuse collection vehicles are indicative of
progress these modern aids fail to compensate for the problems that stem
from the lack of available labour to handle the increasing quantities of
packaging or to undertake yard control at business and shop premises.
The complete absence of any desire to co-operate with neighbours in the
maintenance of reasonable standards in the many service and other roads
that are used in common by householders and traders is another problem.
This becomes abundantly apparent whenever a suggestion is made that
joint action is called for. The general attitude of those concerned invariably
is that this task is the responsibility of the Local Authority. It is sad that
the attitude of so many members of the public towards litter and debris
should be one of complete indifference but unfortunately this is the