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It can be recorded that the Council authorised proceedings to be taken
under Section 94 of the Public Health Act, 1936, because of the default on
the part of the owners of a large house to carry out works of repair.
The case was heard by the Stratford Magistrates on 18th August, 1948,
and a Nuisance Order made by them.
1948 saw the approval of the Clearance Order made in connection with
Clark's Cottages, Woodford Bridge, the property consisting of four backto-back
type houses situated in a court off the main road at Woodford
Bridge. These four cottages were very old and it would appear that they
were originally built as eight dwellings being adapted at a later date to
four, the estimated age being over one hundred years. Demolition is
expected early in 1949.
Another set of four dwellings were dealt with for demolition, again
in the Woodford area. In this case agreement was reached with the owners.
The cottages were very old and were built with external walls made of
laths and plaster. In one case the roof rafters had broken, causing a large
gap to appear in the tiled roof. In another the roof had spread, pushing
out the external plaster walls leaving some ceiling joists in the bedroom
without means of support.
Rodent Control
The year saw another step further in connection with the above, and
Circular N.S.19 was issued offering among other things a 50 per cent. grant
towards the cost of rodent destruction where treatments were made for
which the Local Authority make no charge. The Borough Council accepted
the terms of the Circular and made charges for work performed on business
premises.
It is pleasing to note that during December the Workable Area meeting
was held in the Council Chamber, a welcome being given by Alderman A.
Southam, Vice-Chairman of the Public Health Committee in the absence
of the Chairman of the Public Health Committee, to the members and
officers of the Local Authorities attending. A successful meeting was held
and some further discussion took place upon the new Prevention of Destruction
by Pests Bill.
Your Senior Sanitary Inspector and one of the District Sanitary
Inspectors attended a refresher course held at the Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries' Headquarters in May. The course was very interesting and
instructive and was dealt with from an entirely new angle.
The Council continued its maintenance treatment of the sewers, the
work being conducted by the Deputy Senior Sanitary Inspector, with one
squad of three men. Good results are evident as shown by the tables given
below. The first treatment in the year shows 421 "takes" out of 847 manholes
baited, or 49.7 per cent., and the second, 905 "takes" out of 1,310
manholes treated, or 67 per cent. This result seems to indicate a build-up
of the rat population between the periods of treatment, and confirms the
view of many officials that even if the rat population cannot be stamped
out it must at least be kept to a minimum. Some interesting remarks concerning
this have been made at Workable Area meetings.
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