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17
INTRODUCTION
I submit this last annual report on the environmental health and cleansing
sections of the department with sincere regret. It has been enjoyable for us
to work for the Borough of Chingford, and we feel that our efforts have been
worthwhile. From their support and encouragement, we believe that the Council
valued them. This was much appreciated. So also was the Council's good advice
and judgement in the many difficult problems that arose.
Next year we shall be endeavouring to give the new Borough at least as
good a service. In time I believe we can better this by virtue of the greater
resources and influence of the larger organisation An example is slum clearance
which must be a first priority to obtain land for rehousing and redevelopment.
For that reason I welcome the amalgamation whilst, at the same time, regret the
break-up of the Chingford team, incorporating both the officers and the
Councillors.
The past year has seen achievements in various fields, notably in
bacteriological food control (pages 24 and 25). Several of the conclusions
reached as the result of our extensive sampling were later to be confirmed by
the Milne Report on Typhoid in Aberdeen. These lessons were translated to the
food handlers in the shops to good effect, and the interest created was
demonstrated by the attendance of 250 traders at one of our food hygiene
lectures. Similarly, a great improvement was seen in the hygiene of meat
deliveries by the carriers. The lower standards generally accepted elsewhere
did however make it difficult to maintain the improvement, necessitating constant
vigilance.
The investigation into undesirable substances in plastic toys (pages 26
and 27) showed that we must be on the look out for fresh hazards to our
environment, produced by the new technologies of this age. For instance, as
I mentioned in my last report, new potential dangers are appearing such as
the relatively uncontrolled spraying of growing crops with highly poisonous
insecticides, some of the methods used in the intensive rearing of livestock
and the use of complex additives in our processed foods. Control is necessary
albeit difficult and costly.
The Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act, 1963 (page 28) became
operative during the latter half of 1964. After an intensive effort, all
premises were registered by the end of the year, Chingford being the only
London Borough to accomplish this. Over half the premises received detailed
inspections and in nearly all cases notices of contraventions were necessary,
some being substantial. Undoubtedly, the inspections are resulting in better
working conditions for large numbers of people, and it is pleasant to report
that we were welcomed by the majority of proprietors and, of course, by all
their staffs. It is also worthwhile noting that conditions in the food
premises, which are inspected frequently, were far above the average.