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26
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AREA
WATER
The Metropolitan Water Board, the Colne Valley Water Company together with the Rickmansworth
and Uxbridge Water Board supply Brent with water. These supplies are not subject to plumbo-solvent action
and have been satisfactory both in quantity and quality. All dwelling houses and flats have a piped supply
direct from the mains and there were no complaints of any contamination during the year. Frequent bacteriological
and chemical examination of the water is carried out by the various undertakings.
SEWAGE AND DRAINAGE
Most of the sewage from the Willesden area of the Borough is discharged into the Greater London
Council main sewers, and all that from the Wembley area together with a small amount from the Park
Royal area is discharged into the West Middlesex Main Drainage system.
The arrangements for sewage disposal are adequate and also those for sewerage with minor exceptions
due to local flooding associated with severe storms.
REFUSE DISPOSAL
The Borough Engineer and Surveyor's Department deals with the provision of dustbins.
House refuse is collected weekly and trade refuse as often as required at an agreed charge. The
Greater London Council is responsible for the disposal of refuse by controlled tipping and by separation and
incineration.
SWIMMING BATHS
The Borough Engineer and Surveyor has kindly supplied the following information in respect of the
five swimming baths in the Borough.
The water for filling the baths is obtained from the mains supply. It is regularly chlorinated and
plant of sufficient capacity to ensure breakpoint chlorination is installed at each pool. The capacity of each
bath and the time taken for the whole of the water to pass through the filters and treatment plant is as
follows: —
Time taken for water to
Capacity pass through filters, etc.
(gallons) (hours)
Granville Road Baths 145,000 4
Gladstone Park Swimming Pool 500,000 6
Willesden Sports Centre Swimming Pools (3) 532,000 6½
Kingsbury Swimming Pool 464,000 4½
Vale Farm Swimming Pool 400,000 5
Two hundred and seventy-four samples were taken, of which 11 were unsatisfactory. (See Public
Health Laboratory service page 30).
When samples were found to be unsatisfactory, immediate investigations were made and the various
causes remedied.
SANITARY INSPECTION OF THE AREA
Details of inspections carried out are shown in Table 27. Two inspectors were engaged on special
surveys in smoke control areas.
Demolition and Closing Orders
Demolition Orders were made in respect of property at 50 and 52 Greyhound Road, N.W.10; and
Closing Orders were made in respect of 2 Bramshill Road, N.W.10 (ground floor), and 8 Union Road,
Wembley (whole house).
The Closing Order was determined in respect of 8 Union Road, Wembley, subject to satisfactory
completion of the Schedule of Works.
Slum Clearance and Area Development
The High Court action concerning the South Kilburn (Extended) Area C.P.O. 1 was heard in the
High Court in October, 1967. The Judge dismissed the appeal against the Order initiated by certain property
owners in the area comprising 417 premises and redevelopment is now proceeding.
House-to-House Inspection and Multiple Occupation
House-to-House inspection was carried out during the year. Although hampered by shortage of staff
and the difficulty of carrying out "work in default", a great deal of work was done in combating multiple
occupation to secure the provision of amenities and general repair. This is a most time-consuming project and
many additional public health inspectors would have to be recruited before any appreciable inroads into the
problem could be made.
Forty-six notices under Section 15, Housing Act, 1961, requiring the provision of additional amenities
and 69 directions under Section 19 of the Act to overcome overcrowding in houses in multiple occupation
were served. During 1967, the Department assumed responsibility for the provision of means of escape from
fire in dwelling houses under Section 16 of the Housing Act, 1961. One notice was served during the current
year.