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It is pleasing to report that considerable progress has been
made in the work of establishing smoke control areas in the northeastern
part of the Borough. Two Orders became effective on the 1st
October, 1962 and the Order for the third area has been confirmed by
the Minister of Housing and Local Government. The 'smog' of early
December caused many deaths in the Greater London area and emphasises
the need to remove pollutants from the atmosphere as soon as possible.
The work of the department in connection with food hygiene and
food sampling continued unabated with no dramatic incidents to report.
There was a reduction in the number of applications for
Improvement Grants and the Council decided to undertake a publicity
drive in the Spring of 1963. The majority of the houses in the Borough
possess the essential facilities of a bathroom and hot water system, but
those lacking these amenities are, by modern standards, sub-standard.
Efforts will be made to encourage owners and, in particular, landlords
to improve houses,, It is regretted that the incentive to landlords in
the form of a rent increase of 12½% of their share of the cost of
improvement has failed to produce a spate of applications.
The year was marked by periods of great activity caused by
outbreaks of Smallpox and Poliomyelitis in other parts of the country
and by the outbreak of Dysentery within the Borough.
The department has co-operated with the Forest Products Research
Laboratory and Warren Spring Laboratory of the Department of Scientific
and Industrial Research in connection with the control of timber pests
and atmospheric pollution respectively.
There was a reduction in the work done by the department in
connection with eradication of insect pests, chiefly due to the adverse
weather conditions which prevailed for most of t he year and the County
Council's decision to discontinue the department's routine treatment of
school kitchens to prevent infestation.
The increased day to day contact by Public Health Inspectors
with members of the County Council health and welfare services was a
feature of the year's work and it is to be hoped that this will continue.
I am pleased to record my thanks to the members of the Council
far their support throughout the year,, to Dr. Westcombe for his
encouragement and to the members of the staff of this and other departments
for their co-operation.
I am,
Mr. Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors,
Your obedient servant,
P. E„ KINTON.
Chief Public Health Inspector.