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86
SANITARY SECTION
This section of the report relating to sanitary circumstances, housing,
food inspection and the general routine work of this section of the Department
has been compiled by the Chief Sanitary Inspector, Mr. D.G. Tonkin,
M.S.I.A.
Changes amongst the personnel of the Inspectorate unfortunately continued.
Messrs. White, Cole and Goffin commenced service with the Corporation during
the year and Messrs. Hagedorn, Bloomfield and White left to take up appointments
with other Authorities. Frequent changes in the staff do have an unsettling
influence on policy (and of course show a reflection in the amount
of work carried out), but in each case the Inspectors who left secured
appointments on better terms than we were able to offer in East Ham.
During the year a resumption was made in the programme for the clear—
ance of unfit houses. In January representations were made with regard to
a small area of 4 old houses at Dukes Head in Barking Road and 7 houses In
the Park Road areas this latter may be said to have dealt with the last of
the old 'courts' in the Town as some of the houses had no frontage to a
made-up street. Later in the year, the Minister confirmed both Orders In
their entirety. In December further representations were made in respect
of Greenhill Grove area, comprising 13 dwellings and Colston Road area of 8
houses containing 24 separate tenements,, The Public Inquiry into objections
received was not held by the end of the year.
As previously, the Department carried out inspections of accommodation
occupied by applicants for Council houses, and over 4,000 visits were paid
for this purpose, and reports were supplied to the Housing Department.
Work In connection with the Improvement of the preparation, handling and
sale of foodstuffs continued to play a leading part in the programme of work
carried out, and a solid start was made in the formation of the Food Hygiene
Guild; and by the end of the year well over 200 applications for membership
were received from traders in practically all branches of the food trade.
The Inspection of houses arising out of complaints from tenants, continues
to occupy the bulk of the Inspector's time. Fortunately the number
of complaints received showed a decrease of 236 compared with 1951. (2638
2874) as with the staff depleted for long periods it became even more
difficult to ensure that the necessary repairs were carried out. The number
of preliminary or intimation notices served showed little change from
last year (2270 - 2286)
SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES
Sanitary Inspection
Details of the work of the inspectors in general sanitary administration
are contained in the following statements:-
(a) Inspections
The number of inspections of all classes 31,367
(1) Housing
Under Public Health Act 6,827
Re-inspect ions 14,600
Housing Act, 1936 4,l63
(11) Sanitary Circumstances
Yards, passages and stables 131
Drainage and sanitary accommodation 1,962
Factories (excluding bakehouses) 147
Workplaces and outworkers 153
Caravans 8
Re offensive fumes 80
Miscellaneous 484