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
Hillingdon 1966
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hillingdon]
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74
Environmental Health
Response to the scheme has been extremely poor during 1966 and there are two factors which
explain the reluctance of householders to apply for the grant:—
(1) The cost of carrying out the works is proving higher than at first anticipated.
(2) The probability that the rateable value would be increased if insulation works were carried out.
Neighbouring authorities administering the scheme in the "defined area" have the same experience,
and there appears to be little enthusiasm for the scheme.
Number of applications received 20
Number of applications approved 14
Number of applications withdrawn 6
Number of grants paid 8
Amount paid in grants £777 8s. 6d.
Noise
There were 87 complaints of noise during the year. All the complaints were dealt with informally,
and no notices were served under the Noise Abatement Act.
OFFICES, SHOPS AND RAILWAY PREMISES ACT, 1963
Inspections
It has been possible during the year to accelerate the inspection of offices and shops by the employment
of technical assistants, who have been closely supervised by the Public Health Inspectorate. The
inspections have shown a large number of premises not fully complying with the Act, but the general
basic conditions are good.
Special attention was paid to the lighting of premises. The Minister of Labour has power to make
regulations in respect of lighting but has not done so at the present time. Legal standards tend to
become maximum standards and the freedom to apply Codes of Practice recommended by trade
associations, possibly has resulted in better lighting than Regulations would have specified.
The table set out below shows the number of premises registered and the inspections made in 1966.
| Class of Premises | Registered | General inspections |
|---|---|---|
| Offices | 641 | 544 |
| Retail shops | 1,685 | 1,277 |
| Wholesale shops and warehouses. | 54 | 79 |
| Catering establishments open to the public, canteens | 187 | 40 |
| Fuel storage depot | 7 | — |
| TOTALS | 2,574 | 1,940 |
A total of 1,610 contraventions of the Act were noted and by the end of the year 492 of these had
been remedied.
PORT SANITARY ADMINISTRATION, LONDON (HEATHROW) AIRPORT
Improvement in the staffing position has made possible an intensification of the inspection of
airport offices and shops. The airport is now controlled by the British Airports Authority, and cooperation
under the new arrangements is very satisfactory.