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19.
Public Cleansing
(a) Refuse Collection
A regular weekly collection was maintained and 11,140 tons of town
refuse and salvage were collected from 14,826 premises by 23 men divided
amongst six teams, five of which used 'side loaders' and one a dual tip
vehicle. Four of the refuse freighter fleet were powered by diesel
engines. Trailers were used for salvage collection.
(b) Refuse Disposal
All refuse is taken to the Refuse Works where salvage is extracted
and the tailings incinerated. The resultant clinker, together with some
types of trade refuse, is removed by contractors to a tip outside the
Borough.
The disposal plant is unsatisfactory, being inadequate and worn out.
Furthermore it is sited in a residential area. The Council were concerned
about the condition of the works and proposed to substitute a loading bay
for the incinerator, this work being phased to commence in the financial
year 1961/62. Refuse would then, after extraction of salvage, be removed
from the loading bay by contractors and disposed of outside the district.
In September 1961 the Minister of Housing and Local Government asked
Local Authorities to check public expenditure wherever possible and the
Council resolved to defer this scheme until the financial year 1963/64.
(c) Collection and Disposal Costs
The net expenditure for the collection and disposal of refuse and
salvage, including loan charge, for the financial year 1961/62 was £27,010
or 48/5d. per ton compared with £23,079 or 39/5d. per ton for the previous
year.
(d) Street Cleansing
This service is carried out by a force of twelve men working in three
gangs, each gang being provided with an electric truck. The establishment
allows for six further sweepers to cover holidays, sickness and to provide
replacements for the refuse collection service.
Recruitment of suitable and sufficient labour was extremely difficult
and seldom was the full complement available. Despite this the roads were
kept reasonably clean and only fell badly into arrears following heavy snow
gritting and in the autumn leaf fall.