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In addition, Areas 24, 25 and 26 will cover an additional 474
acres with 4,498 premises.
On 1st January, 1972, the percentage of the total ' black area
acreage in the Greater London Area, which was covered by Smoke
Control Orders confirmed or awaiting decision was 79.7% and the
comparative figures for the London Borough of Merton was 77.0%.
The total number of visits made during 1972 in connection with
the Clean Air Acts for all purposes, was 11,111.
After the operative date of any Order, observations are made from
time to time by Public Health Inspectors and Technical Assistants to
ensure compliance, and I am pleased to report that no obvious contraventions
have been recorded.
Noise Abatement Act, 1960.
Excessive and unwanted noise is one of the great problems of
life. In areas where residential housing ends and industrial development
begins, it is sometimes difficult to strike a balance between what
is acceptable, considering the nature of the area, and what standards
should be used to determine the degree of nuisance or annoyance.
Assistance is given in this respect by the use of noise level meters,
and by the application of British Standards and of recommendations
contained in the Wilson Report.
During the year 1972, 119 complaints regarding noise were received,
and the investigation of these entailed 360 visits, many of
which were made outside normal office hours.
The most common cause of noise complaint were domestic (32),
commercial (28) and roadwork, construction, demolition (16).
The Council has associated itself with the Local Authorities
Aircraft Noise Council, and I attended several meetings of this organisation
during the year.
Legal proceedings were instituted during the year, under Section
II (3) of the Noise Abatement Act, 1960, against a person sounding
loud-speaker chimes attached to an ice-cream vehicle outside permitted
hours. The defendant pleaded guilty and was fined £10 with
costs.
The Pharmacy and Poisons Acts, 1933-1941
One hundred and one applications were received for Certificates
of Entry, Retention, or Alteration from persons who wished to
sell poisons included in Part II of the Prescribed Poisons List.
The Fertilisers and Feeding Stuffs Act, 1926.
Twelve samples of fertiliser were submitted to the Agricultural
Analyst. Four were found to be unsatisfactory, and after investigations
had been made with the manufacturers or suppliers, the Ministry of
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food were notified on Returns.
Burial Act, 1857.
Five licences under this Act, for the removal of human remains,
were received from the Home Office during the year. Exhumation
work is normally carried out in the early hours of the morning, and
in the interests of public health, a Public Health Inspector attends at
the cemetery on each occasion.
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