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Inspection of (a) Factories—mechanical power 274
(b) Factories—non-mechanical power 73
(c) Other premises 4
(d) Workplaces 132
(e) Outworkers' premises 131
Defects remedied 42
Mosquitoes.— Complaints from Whitton and Twickenham Road areas of the presence of biting
mosquitoes have been less during 1948 than in recent years. No evidence was found of the presence of
culex molestus, the biting mosquito, that caused so much annoyance during the years 1939-46.
Disinfestation. —The Housing Department deals with verminous infestation in Council houses,
while such infestations in other houses is dealt with by the Health Department. For this purpose D.D.T.
and other new insecticides were used and 40 rooms in 17 houses were treated. During the year 33 wasp
nests were destroyed and 4 premises cleared of cockroaches.
Noise Nuisance.—In the Middlesex County Council Act a noise nuisance is deemed to exist "where
any person makes or continues or causes to be made or continued any excessive or unreasonable or unnecessary
noise which is injurious or dangerous to health." Further, it is a good defence for the person
charged to show "that he has used the best practicable means of preventing or mitigating the nuisance,
having regard to the cost and to other revelant circumstances." Most complaints of noise nuisance arise
in connection with industrial processes carried on in factories situated close to houses. From the above
definition it will be seen that many factors have to be taken into consideration in judging whether or not
a noise is a nuisance with the meaning of the Act, though there may be no doubt about the annoyance to
residents in the neighbourhood of the factory concerned. During the year complaints of nuisance due to
noise were received in regard to four factories. Many day and night observations were made concerning
these complaints and every effort made in conjunction with the firms concerned to reduce the noise as
far as was practicable.
Rats and Mice Destruction.—Under the general direction of the Chief Sanitary Inspector a Rodent
Officer and two operatives carry out the work required under the Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919.
A summary of the work done since the powers and duties under the Act were transferred to the Council
is shown below:—
1944
1945
1946
1947
1948
Complaints received
227
208
240
275
391
Block inspections
6
38
59
28
9
Individual inspections
695
1,321
1,492
2,089
2,026
Individual re-inspections
146
243
322
225
234
Other visits
191
110
248
338
408
Premises treated—
(a) By occupiers
88
82
136
100
111
(b) By Local Authority .
317
446
660
836
806
The responsibility for keeping premises free from rats and mice rests with the occupiers. If they
are unable or do not care to undertake the necessary work themselves the services of the Council's operatives
are available on payment on a time and material basis. Not only must the rats on the premises be dealt
with, but also the conditions encouraging their presence if recurrence of infestation is to be avoided. By
whatever means rats and mice gain access to premises, their continued presence there is generally due to
conditions on the premises which provide food and/or harbourage, and it is proper that the occupiers should
be required to do something about it. Test baiting and, where necessary, treatment is carried out to sewers,
watercourses, tips, etc., but unless occupiers take active measures to discourage rats, slow progress will
be made towards eradication.
HOUSING
To-day the shortage of houses is such that houses suitable for demolition have to be retained. The
housing shortage is causing physical, mental and moral strain, and until this can be relieved by the provision
of new houses action in regard to slum clearance must be postponed. Attention is being given to making
good the deterioration in houses arising from the Restrictions and difficulties of maintenance during the
war years, but progress is slow because labour and materials are still scarce. A summary of the work done
in connection with housing is given below:—
New houses erected:—
(a) By Local Authority 258
(b) By private enterprise 45
Houses inspected 673
Defective houses rendered fit in consequence of informal action 89
Defective houses rendered fit in consequence of statutory action 141
Houses in respect of which Demolition Orders were made 11
Houses demolished in pursuance of Demolition Orders Nil
Houses rendered fit in consequence of undertaking given by owner Nil
Houses known to be overcrowded (Housing Act Standard) at end of year 88
New cases of overcrowding reported 27
Cases of overcrowding relieved during the year 65
Southall Corporation erected 54, Brentford and Chiswick Corporation 14 and Ministry of Civil
Aviation 39 of the new Local Authority houses recorded in the above table. Of the 45 private enterprise
houses 41 were built privately to replace houses totally destroyed by enemy action. Thus the total number
of new dwellings erected in the Borough during the year was 303.
At the end of 1948 tenants were occupying 56 houses in respect of which Demolition Orders have
been made or undertakings not to re-let accepted from owners. The above record cannot be accepted as
a true picture of overcrowding as such could be obtained only by a census or survey of all houses. The
Housing Act standard is a house and not a bedroom standard and therefore presents a picture very different
from the usual concept of overcrowding.
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