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GENERAL SANITATION
Factories and Workplaces. The number of inspections
made to premises registered under the Factories Act, 1937, was
247. Defects relating to sanitary conveniences, ventilation and
other sanitary matters were dealt with at 14 premises. The
table on page 47 gives details of action taken during the year.
Water Courses. Regular inspections were made of the
water courses in the district, particularly of the River Wandle,
and Beverley and Pyl Brooks for the purpose of detecting pollutions.
Details of pollutions entering from the Council's
surface water sewers were received from the Surrey County
Council and investigated.
Mosquitoes. A number of complaints were received from
residents and spraying of water courses and ditches was
carried out particularly in the vicinity of the Council's recreation
grounds and open spaces during the breeding season.
Morden Hall Park continues to be an intermittent breeding
ground due to occasional flooding from the River Wandle.
The scheme for raising the level of part of the Park by utilising
spent screenings from the Refuse Works was continued during
the year. Although this will undoubtedly help, no final relief
can be expected until the level of the whole park is raised to
prevent the possibility of any part being flooded during the
breeding season.
Rodent Control. 253 complaints of infestation were
received during the year and as a result of the inspections of
2254 premises, 276 of them were found to be infested. The
control method recommended by the Ministry of Agriculture
was followed in every case.
A 10% test baiting of the Council's sewers was made and
120 manholes were included. Of this total, only one manhole
showed a take. Two sewer treatments were carried out during
the year.
A free service is provided for householders and has resulted
in a ready notification of infestations, which have been taken
early and quickly cleared. Most business premises employ their
own servicing contractors, but in some cases treatments were
carried out by the Department and charged at an agreed rate.
Animal Nuisances.—It became necessary on July 13th
to apply to the Wimbledon Court for a nuisance Order to
control the keeping of 7 goats in a domestic garden in such
a manner as to be a nuisance. The Order was granted but the
defendant took no steps within the 56 days allowed to abate
the nuisance. A further summons being issued, she was fined £2
and costs for the non-compliance and warned as to her liability
to a daily penalty. This had the desired effect.
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