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12
CHIEF SANITARY INSPECTOR'S REPORT
Council Offices,
Feltham,
Middlesex
June, 1949
To Dr. F. H. Woods, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P.,
Medical Officer of Health.
Sir,
I beg to present a report upon the work of the department
which I administer.
Staffing difficulties have not been so severe as in 1947,
although we were one sanitary inspector short for several
months and with two changes of personnel during the year
conditions were not as settled as one could wish for the
continuous development and improvement of the department's
services.
The housing shortage is the cause of many cases of overcrowding
which have been visited. Many people living under
over-crowded conditions solicit the aid of the department in
advancing their applications to the Council for rehousing.
These cases are visited and, if considered necessary, are reported
for consideration by the Housing Committee. In some
cases much inconvenience and unhappiness is caused by the
occupation of a house by more than one family, but where
there is no illegal over-crowding. Applicants for rehousing
have been visited before interview by the Housing Committee,
and I am hopeful that these fact-finding inspections have
helped the Committee to assess those applicants with the
greatest need.
The urgent necessity of providing new houses also affects
our efforts in dealing with old, obsolescent and worn out
dwelling-houses. A start in a small way was made by the
making of demolition orders in respect of eight cottages. The
occupants were in process of being rehoused at the end of the
year and 1949 will probably see the demolition of these unfit
houses.