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20
Clean Air
The Clean Air Act came partly into operation on the
31st December, 1956, including provisions with regard to
Smoke Control Areas, heights of new chimneys, installation
of new furnaces and new building byelaws regarding heating
and cooking appliances in new domestic buildings.
The Council adopted the byelaw requiring domestic
heating and cooking appliances in new buildings to be
capable of burning smokeless fuel and it came into operation
on the 1st November, 1957. Action was taken with regard to
certain new buildings to ensure adequate chimney heights.
Consideration was given to the establishment of a Smoke
Control Area but no decision had been made at the end of
the year.
Rodent Control
The control of rat and mice infestations in accordance
with the methods advocated by the Ministry of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Food was continued. The Council's refuse tip
was kept under regular observation and any sign of rat
activity dealt with immediately. The public sewers were test
baited in the Autumn and were found to be free from
infestation. The Ministry considered that further test baiting
would not be necessary until 1960.
During the twelve months ended on the 31st March,
1958, the complaints received of infestations numbered 174,
and these together with cases discovered by members of the
staff involved the inspection of 1,089 premises. Rat infestations
were found at 188 premises and mice infestations at
51 premises. Of these 212 treatments were undertaken by
the department, the remaining 27 being carried out by the
occupiers.
When treatments are carried out by this department on
behalf of occupiers, a standard charge of five shillings is
made in the case of private dwellings and the full cost of
the treatment is recovered in the case of business premises.
Where the occupiers elect to carry out the treatment themselves,
advice and supervision is given to ensure that the
treatment is effective.