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The total number of visits made during 1965 in connection with
the Clean Air Act, 1956, for all purposes, was 13,535.
Work in connection with Smoke Control Areas presented considerable
difficulties on 1st April, 1965, inasmuch as it involved three
separate systems of administration and varying stages of completion
in respect of surveys, Areas and Orders, and a depleted staff. Nevertheless,
these difficulties were overcome and the work was proceeding
satisfactorily on one system by the end of the year, except in the case
of Merton and Morden (No. 7) Smoke Control Order, 1965. The
changeover was completed whilst maintaining good relations with
residents in the Areas concerned.
After the operative date of any Smoke Control Order, observations
are made from time to time by Public Health Inspectors and
Technical Assistants, to ensure compliance with the Order.
Noise Abatement Act, 1960.
During 1965, 115 complaints regarding noise were received and
448 visits were made. Many of the complaints referred to alleged
noise nuisances at night and the majority of these visits were made
outside normal office hours, for the purpose of observation and the
taking of Noise Level Meter readings.
Legal proceedings were instituted against the driver of an icecream
vehicle for sounding his loudspeaker chimes outside the permitted
hours. The defendant pleaded guilty and was fined £3.
The Pharmacy and Poisons Acts, 1933-1941 (a).
The Rag Flock and Other Filling Materials Act, 1951.
The Fertilisers and Feeding Stuffs Act, 1926.
The administration of the Council's powers under these enactments
is the responsibility of the Public Health Inspectors. It was
not possible to make any progress in connection with this legislation
during 1965 with the exception of (a) above, where the issue of
licences was undertaken by the Town Clerk's Department.
Housing Acts, 1957-1964.
In accordance with the Ministry of Health Circular 17/55, details
of housing matters are omitted from this Report, but I think that some
reference should be made to the work carried out in this field.
The implementation of the Slum Clearance Programmes of the
three constituent Authorities continued, and, in addition, a number of
houses were inspected, either for repair or for Closing Order or
Demolition procedure. During the year the Council adopted Standards
to be Applied to Houses let in Multiple Occupation, and 477 visits
were made to such houses. The total number of visits made to premises
of all kinds, for the purposes of housing administration, was 2,078.
CONCLUSION
Despite an obvious slowing down process immediately before,
and for some time after, 1st April, 1965, a good standard and variety
of work has been maintained by the staff of the Environmental
Health Section of the Department. The continuity of the service has
been maintained but staffing difficulties are reflected in some of the
statistics given in this Report.
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