View report page

RODENT CONTROL
There was no change in the Council's policy during the year of carrying out work free
of cost at domestic premises; offering technical services to business and industrial premises
where a commercial operator is retained, or carrying out the work at economic charge where
it was within the scope of the Council's staff.
At one large factory, dissatisfaction was recorded on inspection with methods of a
commercial operator and prescribed technique was applied at an accepted charge with good
effect.
Block treatment was carried out on a large factory estate. After explanation of plans
and technique at a meeting of directorates concerned, with the commercial operator available
at, but not in, the meeting, to agree methods, and measures, the work proceeded under the
supervision of the Council's staff to a satisfactory conclusion.
NOISE NUISANCE
In an industrial neighbourhood such as Southall there are bound to be occasional
complaints of noise nuisance arising from the operations of factories in close proximity to
residential property. It is not always possible to obtain satisfactory abatement of such
nuisance, as there is no legal remedy if the management of the factories concerned are taking
all practicable means to mitigate noise.
During 1952 complaints of noise nuisance were received concerning five firms, in one
case no nuisance was established; in one there was definite nuisance from noise but the
house concerned was very close to the factory and the management was taking all practicable
means to reduce the noise. In two cases noise was remedied by alteration to plant and
increased sound-proofing, and in one instance the nuisance will be remedied, but at the
end of 1952 material for alterations to structure was still being awaited.
ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION
The measurement of atmospheric pollution was continued throughout the year at
three sites in the Borough. At Jubilee Gardens in the north, at the Recreation Ground in
the south, measurements were taken by the lead peroxide method which provides a relative
measure of the average amount of sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere from month to month.
At Hortus Cemetery, also in the southern part of the Borough, measurements of solids
deposited from the air was carried out by means of a deposit gauge. The results are
tabulated below and on Graphs D and E the seasonal variation can be seen.
At the Recreation Ground station there is an overall decrease in the amount of
atmospheric pollution recorded by the lead peroxide method for the first seven months of
1952, as compared with the corresponding figures for 1951. The abnormal weather
conditions resulting in the production of the most dense fog recorded for very many years,
produced high figures for sulphur dioxide pollution in November and December at both
stations.
25