View report page

100
no further trouble has been experienced from gypsy caravans on the
road verges.
The furniture factory has moved out of the borough and taken its
noise with it.
Accordingly we hoped that with the elimination of these problems,
peace and tranquility would descend upon the borough, but from long
experience of environmental health I felt that this would be too much to
expect. Alas, my forebodings proved correct for during 1968 the gypsies
were replaced by squatters who took over a number of unoccupied premises
within the Town Centre Redevelopment Area, and the furniture factory
by a garage which on change of ownership increased in size and activities
to the irritation of the surrounding residents.
Town Planning which separates industrial and residential properties
has no greater supporter than the P.H.I, who finds himself sandwiched
between the two warring factions in a case such as this. It was some
relief to find that we were not involved to any large extent with the
squatters.
Clean Air activity has continued to progress with Smoke Control
Area No. 14, the largest so far declared in this authority, coming
smoothly into operation on October 1st. Smoke Control Order No. 15
(Cranbrook and Park) was delayed for some months for financial reasons,
but was subsequently made and confirmed with date of operation 1st July
1970. The end of the smoke control programme is, therefore, well within
sight, one area, 11 ford, Clementswood and Mayfield remaining. The value
of this work is clearly obvious to anyone, and it is gratifying to know
that this authority is well to the fore emongst London Boroughs, who in
turn are well ahead of the rest of the country.
The Clean Air Act 1968, which amends the original Act to a certain
extent, did not come into operation during the year, but it is anticipated
that there will be an increase in duties under this Act in respect of grit
and dust emission and chimney heights. The changed control of the latter
from planning to public health is welcome.
This borough has no large slum clearance problem and as you will
read later in this report, the programme has been overhauled and the
number of properties involved reduced considerably. Undoubtedly, there
is a vast volume of work outstanding in the improvement of existing