London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Chingford 1951
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Chingford]
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12.
Net expenditure for the collection and disposal of refuse and
salvage, including loan charges, was £12,963 or 22s.5d per ten as
against £16,511 or 27s,10d per ton for the previous year.
The total income from all sources was £14,144 as compared
with £7,009 for the previous year. Once again the largest income was
received for the sale of newsprint and mixed waste papers and in the
light of conditions prevailing in the year 1952 it is doubtful whether
the high prices paid by the Mills for this class of material during
the year under review were really justified. One innovation which
proved highly successful was the sorting out and the sale of woollens;
just over 3 tons of woollens were sold at £300 per ton and the
experiment was fully justified.
The following extract from a report by the Borough Treasurer shows the percentage increases in weight and'value in the year 1951/52 over 1950/51 in the main sources of salvage:-
| Weight | Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Paper | 2% | 124% |
| Ferrous Metals | 14% | 292% |
| Non-Ferrous Metals | 31% | |
| Bottles and Jars | 155% | 172% |
| Cullet | 17% | 17% |
| Textiles | 36% | 216% |
The fleet of refuse collection freighters was maintained in
good condition throughout the year; two new Harrier vehicles were
acquired and the two Fordson freighters became redundant. The fleet
comprises six Karrier 10 cubic yard side-loading vehicles and one
10 cubic yard Shelvoke and Drewry freighter.
Street cleansing was maintained under difficulties during the
year. The efficiency of the Lewin Road Sweeper was impaired during
the year not only by reason of staff changes and absences through
sickness but also by reason of the fact that the machine itself had to
undergo a.major overhaul. It is now reasonably clear that any form of
mechanical sweeper can only be an adjunct to the normal manual service
provided by street orderlies. Further, any scheme is prone to disturbance
which has to rely on only one machine being maintained in a
constant state of efficiency. Nevertheless, in spite of the difficulties
mentioned, the general condition of the streets was satisfactory.
Road gullies were cleansed by contract as in previous years,
those gullies in main roads being cleansed four times per year and
those in district roads twice per year.
The public sanitary conveniences were maintained in good
condition throughout the year. The Council had under consideration
during the year the provision of a new convenience near the Royal
Forest Hotel in order to adequately cater for the influx of visitors
at holiday times, and also an additional sanitary convenience at
Chingford Hatch to serve the London County Council Estate.