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(b) self-service launderettes and cleaners with one or more staff at the cash
desk to take money and hand out detergents, etc;
(c) self-service launderettes and cleaners as in (b) but where the staff,
probably with the employer's knowledge bur no formal obligation, will take
a customer's washing or cleaning and deal with it for a tip while the customer
goes shopping;
(d) self-service launderettes and cleaners as in (b) but where service washing
and cleaning is also done for an extra charge; and
(e) laundries and cleaners which offer in the same premises facilities for selfservice
and also a service of washing, cleaning and pressing by paid employees.
Self-service launderettes and cleaners appear to be a business venture operated by
people with little or no technical knowledge or sense of responsibility with respect to hygiene
and danger, and who are rarely seen on the premises. Staff are employed only on a part time
basis and at some establishments there is virtually no supervision.
Unfortunately, the exemption provisions under the O.S.R.P. Act which excludes
premises where the sum of hours worked by all employees is less than 21 hours per week,
applies to most of the 67 such premises in the Borough with the result that the local authority
has no control beyond a limited application of the nuisance provisions of the Public Health
Acts. It was suggested to the Association of Municipal Corporations that self-service
launderettes should be excluded from the exemption clauses altogether and that a full-time
attendant should be obligatory. Supervision and control by both local authority and occupier
are essential for the maintenance of adequate standards of hygiene and safety. Machinery and
equipment damaged and rendered defective as a result of vandalism and misuse by irresponsible
persons frequenting premises where there is little, if any, supervision could well constitute a
serious danger to bona fide customers.
The report submitted by the Council received considerable publicity in the local press
and in a trade journal "Laundry and Cleaning". From these press reports I gathered that the
well established business interests in the Borough were generally in favour of stricter legal
controls for this type of establishment.
Noise Abatement
Act, I960
In this country, as in the majority of the advanced countries of the world, one of the
biggest problems in the urban environment is that of noise. Noise may be regarded as a form
of environmental pollution which, as with other forms of pollution, must be prevented or at
least reduced to an acceptable level. Considerable efforts are being directed towards the
control of this social nuisance in the Borough and the public health inspector is becoming
increasingly concerned with the solution of the many problems involved.
Close consultation is needed between industrialists, architects, planning officers and
the health department before approval is given to new developments involving processes which
are likely to cause noise and vibration. When urban renewal programmes and major redevelopment
schemes are being prepared there must be the fullest possible co-operation between the
various professional officers concerned with the environment so as to prevent the creation of
noise nuisances.
The Ministry of Housing and Local Government requested the Council to submit a
report on the action taken to deal with industrial noise over the two year period 1967/68.
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