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32
SECTION C
SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AREA
The Chief Public Health Inspector reports as follows:—
"GENERAL ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES"
The general standard of the Environmental Health Services
within the Borough was maintained during the year 1964.
The Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963 imposed new
duties on local authorities to licence establishments, wherein animals
(cats and dogs) are kept, subject to strict conditions for watering,
feeding, protection against fire, prevention of spread of infectious
diseases and for maintaining a register of movement of animals.
Complaints of pigeon nuisances were received in the department
and efforts were made to eradicate them by trapping.
Unfortunately the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food were
reluctant to grant a licence to narcotise the pigeons on the 3alfour
Road-Ley Street site by reason of possible public objection. It must
be appreciated by the public that these birds cause serious damage
to crops and buildings as well as causing embarrassment to passersby
and whilst I appreciate fully the love of many people for birds,
this particular type when fed on public places is imposing hardship
on many others. If those who feed the pigeons would refrain from so
doing, it would obviate great expense to the local authority and the
necessity to implement the Public Health Act, 1961, which by Section
74 empowers local authorities to reduce the number of pigeons and
other birds in built-up areas.
The supervision of houses let in multiple occupation continued
unabated and it is felt that householders have acquired a
sense of responsibility for the provision of a reasonable standard
of sanitary amenity, without resort to statutory legal enforcement.
'Directions' regarding the restriction of occupants, have had a
salutary effect in mitigating some cases of overcrowding, whilst
othprs have induced landlords to better the sanitary circumstances
of their tenants.
In order to maintain the food supply of the district fit for
human consumption and to assuage, those who complained about
foreign bodies in articles of food purchased privately, legal proceedings
were instituted in 9 cases and penalties imposed in 7.