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The urgent need for this Act is shown by the fact that the inspection of 321 premises gave rise
to the service of 138 notices in respect of 284 contraventions viz:—
Items of disrepair 80
Inadequate heating 61
Inadequate sanitary accommodation and/or washing facilities 68
Inadequate lighting 19
Inadequate ventilation 5
Overcrowding 3
Inadequate facilities for drying outdoor clothing 13
Inadequate first-aid equipment 68
Abstract of Act not exhibited 56
Inadequate fire-guards 11
Noise
The number of complaints about noise has not been large but has covered a wide variety of
causes, of which the following are typical:—
1. A pop group practising in a community hall adjoining dwellings.
2. Steam escaping from an industrial plant.
3. Domestic noises in flats such as riddling the fire-grate.
4. The operation of fork-lifts in a factory yard at night time.
All these complaints were dealt with informally and, where a nuisance was actually found to
exist, remedied. Although it was not necessary to serve any notices under the Noise Abatement Act
the fact that these powers were available was undoubtedly of great assistance.
The greatest source of noise in the Borough is, of course, the airport, but aircraft are exempt
from the provisions of the Noise Abatement Act. Probably this fact is known to the public and
explains why no complaints have been received in the department about noise from this source.
Discussions have taken place with the Ministry on a scheme for the grant-aided sound-proofing
of dwellings in certain parts of the Borough most affected by airport noise. The scheme is to come
into effect on the 1st April 1966, but certain features of it (mainly cost) are likely to militate against
its ready acceptance by private owners or occupiers.
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