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26
SECTION C.
SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AREA.
The Chief Public Health Inspector reports as follows: —
"Designation of Public Health Inspectors.
During the year the Sanitary Inspectors (Change of Designation) Act
became law as the result of the recommendations of the Working Party
report on the recruitment, training and qualifications of Sanitary Inspectors.
Henceforth they are to be called Public Health Inspectors. These officers
originated with the Public Health Act 1848 wherein they were described
as Inspectors of Nuisances. This Statute, if adopted by local authorities,
required the appointment of such an officer, whcse duties were detailed
with some minuteness. With the increase in public health legislation the
inspectors' duties were multiplied, being variously described in sanitary
law as either an Inspector of Nuisances .or a Sanitary Inspector, which
latter title later submerged the former.
So far removed are the present duties of the erstwhile Sanitary
Inspector from those of his earlier predecessor that it was considered by
the Working Party that a more appropriate title ought to be given to
these important local authority functionaries. That Ihis is right is exemplified
by a consideraion of his duties today.
The Working Party reported on twenty-three different branches of
health duties falling to be performed by this officer and these by no means
limited the extent of his duties.
Housing (Slum Clearance Programme).
One of his most important functions is the housing conditions of a
large section of the community, as instanced by the progress of the
Council's slum clearance programme envisaged in 1955, when some 291
houses were deemed to be suitable for inclusion in a five year programme
of demolitions under clearance and compulsory purchase orders under the
Housing Act 1936. During the year under review six clearance areas
were made by the Council in Laburnum Grove and Railway Terrace
Radnor Crescent, Grove Steps, Hainault Farm Bungalows, Green Lane,
and Mill Road, which brought the number of properties dealt with under
the five year scheme to 119 dwellings.
It is the Council's policy to pursue this programme vigorously until
it is completed, particularly in the light of the government's proposal to
proffer housing subsidies only in respect of dwellings included in slum
clearance areas.
Atmospheric Pollution
To augment the clean air policy of the government, the Council
decided to instal atmospheric pollution measuring instruments at the
Town Hall, Gants Hill Library and John Bramston School. These have
been set up and are in full operation. It is hoped that in conjunction
with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Fuel Research
Station, these appliances will determine the extent of air contamination
in llford and its relationship to contiguous authorities' problems. The
possibility of creating within the Borough a " smokeless zone " or Smoke
Control Area is to be considered. This of course warrants earnest consideration
by the Council, as its financial and restrictive commitments are
extensive.