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conditional upon carrying out extensive repairs and redecoration. The volume
of meat inspection work now carried out in the Borough is placing a considerable
burden upon the inspectorial staff of the department who have to undertake
much of this work out of normal working hours.
Housing
Intensive effort has continued during the year in the task of improving
local housing conditions. The shortage of suitable building land, the
existing high density of population per acre, and large number of applicants
still on the live housing register adds considerably to the problem of preparing
further programmes for clearance of unfit properties. The Housing Repairs
and Rents Act, 1954 places new emphasis on clearance or reconditioning of
unfit houses; and in submitting proposals to the Minister, account has been
taken of the need for careful planning to provide suitable areas of redevelopment
which will allow for a scheme of decanting and redevelopment stage by
stage.
Atmospheric Pollution
The Borough's first "smokeless zone" made under the Tottenham Corporation
Act, 1952 was approved during the year. Confined in the first instance to a
declaratory area of major war damage it is intended to expand the boundaries
of the 'smokeless zone' as redevelopment proceeds.
Care of the Aged
Year by year this subject grows in importance, and with increasing knowledge
and experience of the problems involved we are fortunate in Tottenham in
having the active co-operation of all the statutory and voluntary agencies
concerned.
To the Chairman and members of the various Committees concerned with the
health services of the Borough, I wish to express my indebtedness for the
encouragement they have continued to show me at all times. Also to thank
sincerely the Chief Officers of the Corporation and my colleagues in all
departments of the health service for their help and co-operation.
I am,
Your Obedient Servant,
G. : HAMILTON HOGBEN.:
Medical Officer of Health.
28 th July, 1955.