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Section 16/18 of the Housing Act, 1957 is initiated. As demolition of individual houses
situated within a terrace is not always practicable owing to the need for lateral support to
adjoining property and weatherproofing, closing orders which leave properties vacant and
derelict present problems. In these circumstances it is preferable for a property to be repaired
and brought back to use.
During the year 18 dwelling houses were subject to closing order procedure and as a
result of works being carried out by the owners to render the houses fit, 7 orders were determined.
Three parts of houses were subjected to closing order procedure during the year and an
example of the kind of transformation that can occur as a result of this action with a willingness
on the part of the owner, can be seen by the photographs which are reproduced in this book.
Health Education
Most Inspectors accept the duties of health education in their day to day dealings with
the public. It is generally agreed that the voluntary execution of public health requirements
have far more permanent effects than those carried out as a result of prosecutions.
As an extension of the role of the public health inspector in health education, lectures
were given during the year to pupil midwives, nurses and housewives organisations. In conjunction
with other officers of the Health and Welfare Department a series of lectures were
arranged at one of the schools where students were preparing to sit for an 'O' level examination
in Biology and Hygiene. The technical and administrative procedures in connection with the
clearance and redevelopment of a residential area were selected as a project for discussion
with a further group of students. Lectures were given by representatives of all the various
departments of the Council involved in the exercise. It is of interest to note that the contribution
by the public health inspectorate was recorded and screened in other classrooms by close
circuit television.
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