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Overcrowding
One case of overcrowding was found and reported to
the Public Health Committee and five known cases of overcrowding
were abated during the year.
Moveable Dwellings
Since the operation of the Caravan Sites and Control
of Development Act, 1960, which is largely a planning
measure and so far as the control of caravans is concerned
supersedes the general public health control, the control of
caravans has been exercised by the Engineer and Surveyor's
Department. Two areas of land awaiting redevelopment
were invaded by large colonies of caravan dwellers. The
owners of the sites eventually had them evicted, but not
before many complaints were made regarding the behaviour
of the caravan dwellers. The sites were left in a deplorable
condition, necessitating the removal of lorry loads of rubbish
including several car bodies.
Food Premises
Inspections of all types of food premises were continued
as regularly as possible more particular attention being
given to premises where food was prepared.
Constant vigilance is required in connection with food
handling and display. The visits of the public health inspectors
to individual premises had of necessity to be relatively
short and infrequent and in so many cases the attitude of
food handlers to the commodity they handled seemed
careless, no doubt bred by familiarity. Display methods
change and self service as applied to the smaller shops
tended to bring less satisfactory methods of display. Action
under food hygiene law is generally limited to those matters
which are a risk to health, but surely the time has now corns
when it should be possible to deal with an asthetically undesirable
practice without having to prove an actual risk.
Shops
The department administered the whole of the provisions
of the Shops Act, 1950, and all shops in the area were