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There is at present a desire on the part of school staffs and Parent
Teacher Associations to provide swimming pools at the schools. Such
provision, in the absence of municipally owned baths, is welcome and
oeneficial to the pupils provided that the staff in charge keep a careful
check on the filtration, chlorination and general condition of the water.
Care, too, must be taken to see that adequate water is maintained in
the foot baths and to the cleanliness of the bath surrounds.
The local authority, for their part, must keep an eye on these pools
and sample them periodically for chemical and bacteriological examination.
Testing by the use of a colour comparator is also useful.
Public Health Act, 1961, Section 74
Power to reduce numbers of pigeons and other birds in built-up areas
Subject to certain provisions under this section of the new Public
Health Act, a local authority shall have powers to take any steps for
the purpose of abating or mitigating any nuisance or damage caused by
the congregation in any built-up area of house doves or pigeons or
starlings or sparrows.
For some years one shopping area has been troubled oy a considerable
number of these birds which not only do damage of a structural
nature but foul the roofs and front elevations of the buildings. A second
area became affected at a later date where it was alleged that rainwater
gutters were being choked, with the dropings of the birds.
Complaints from occupiers of the affected areas could not in past
years be dealt with because of the lack of legal powers, but when the
provisions of this section became known these occupiers sought the aid
of the Council in ridding them of this bird nuisance.
After much information had been obtained from adjoining areas and
from officers of the metropolitan boroughs a report was made by the
Chief Public Health Inspector to the Council through the Public Health
Committee setting out the problem and the steps which could be taken
by shooting, trapping, etc.
Although the matter was thoroughly discussed the Committee at that
time decided to take no action.
Civil Defence Staff College (Course for Public Health Inspectors)
The Chief and Deputy Chief Public Health Inspectors attended the
courses at Sunningdale arranged by the Ministry of Health in conjunction
with the Home Office. The courses which started on Sunday evening
and finished on the afternoon of the following Friday, covered some of
the general principles of civil defence and matters designed to deal with
mass movement of population and problems associated therewith such
as provision of water supply, its purification and protection; removal of
refuse and safe treatment; mass feeding; protection and examination of
foodstuffs in relation to radiation "fall-out", etc.
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