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
Richmond upon Thames 1965
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Richmond upon Thames]
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(7). The Liquid Egg (Pasteurisation) Regulations, 1963.
There are no egg pasteurisation plants in the district and the eight samples of
liquid egg taken were submitted only for bacteriological examination and not to the
Alpha-Amylase test.
3. ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION
(a) The Clean Air programme continued satisfactorily and the following Smoke Control Orders came into operation during the year :
| Area | Dwellings | Other Premises | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnes No. 6 Order | 110.6 acres | 1,609 | 174 |
| Richmond No. 6 Order | 108.0 „ | 2,007 | 125 |
| Twickenham No. 4 Order | 875.0 „ | 3,058 | 147 |
| In addition, the following Orders were made by the Council and are planned to come into operation in 1966 : | |||
| Barnes No. 7 Order | 453 acres | 1,288 | 89 |
| Richmond No. 7 Order | 152 „ | 1,330 | 41 |
| Twickenham No. 5 Order | 630 „ | 3,077 | 156 |
The revised grant arrangements continued without further amendment. Householders
are given freedom of choice between the various smokeless fuels and where
solid smokeless fuel is selected, applicants are encouraged to install the more efficient
closed appliance rather than the open coke firegrate; where electricity is selected for
space heating, a grant is not paid for direct heating appliances, the use of which places
undue strain on power resources at peak periods, but a grant is available for the installation
of electric storage heaters.
Inevitably the new policy has resulted in more costly although more efficient
adaptations and the Council have given sympathetic consideration to many cases of
financial hardship so that, where need is shown, a 100% grant has been paid instead
of the statutory 70%.
(b) Complaints of smoke emission were not numerous and in general referred
either to garden bonfires or to isolated factory chimneys. The burning of garden refuse,
even in a smoke control area, is permitted by law so long as a nuisance is not caused to
the inhabitants of the neighbourhood. When complaints have been received the householder
concerned has accepted the advice given on the disposal of garden waste matter
so as not to give offence to nearby residents. Complaints of smoke from industrial
chimneys have required a more thorough technical investigation, and in the case of a
local laundry the proprietors have agreed to apply for the Council's town planning
consent to enable the boilerhouse to be reconstructed and to install a modern mechanically
fired boiler which will replace the existing unsatisfactory hand fired boiler.
4. OFFICES, SHOPS AND RAILWAY PREMISES ACT, 1963
The Act came into force in 1964 and sets standards for the health, welfare and
safety of employees in offices, shops and railway premises. All office workers are within
its scope whether they work in separate office buildings or in offices forming part of
other buildings (e.g. schools, factories, hotels, etc.). Shops are widely defined to include
wholesale and retail trade premises, restaurants, launderettes, dry-cleaning receiving
premises and fuel storage depots.
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