U-UM( I / c S'*ft 0 /} J A §/f« ■•'•■; r #‘r *' A\ K RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DUNMOW REPORT of the MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH for the year 1934- together with the REPORT of the CHIEF SANITARY INSPECTOR RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL OP UIMCM PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE J.Lanyon, Esq,, J.P., Chairman D.F.Cock, Esq., Vice-Chairman W,Bishop, Esq, B. H.Eums, Esq, C, H,Burton, Esq, Mrs L, Bur ton P, Coleman, Esq, A,A,G,Cox, Esq, G. Crawford, Esq, Mrs V.G.M.Culf V.Culpin, Esq, F.Y/.Dever, Esq, YtT.S.Byer, Esq, H, A,Freeman, Esq, A,J,Gibbons, Esq, Mrs M,L,Griffith, J,P,, C.C. Mrs I,M.Herbert C.R.Hockley, Esq, E.J,Holloway, Esq,, J,P., C.A. N,C.Kerr, Esq, J.M.Lukies, Esq,, J.P, E.F. Wright, Esq, Mrs J.Mee (resigned 23.11.54) A.A.Menhinick, Esq, E.C.Metson, Esq, J.Plumbley, Esq, C.E.Pulford, Esq, R,H,Rankin, Esq, G.A.Reynolds, Esq, A.A.Y/.Rogers, Esq, Mrs D.H.M,Romanes C,H.Smith, Esq, J«W. Steele, Esq, V.H.St evens, Esq, G, E,Stock, Esq, T,T,Streeter, Esq, H. Trembath, Esq,, J.P. A,G,Turner, Esq. C.A.YTalker, Esq. J,Winder, Esq, H.W.Y/itney, Esq, Acting Medical Officer of Health; J.S.RANSON, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., D.P.H. Chief Sanitary Inspector: H.B.GAKDHER, M,R.San,I., Cert,R.San.I. and S.I.E.J.B. Certificated Inspector of Meat and Other Foods Additional Sanitary Inspectors: R.P.MAY, Cert.R.San.I. and S.I.E.J.B, Certificated Inspector of Meat and Other Foods J.WARD, Cert.R.San.I, and S.I.E.J.B. Certificated Inspector of Meat and Other Foods Chief Clerk: G.H.MASOM Junior Clerk: Miss D.E.COOK The Chief Sanitary Inspector is also Surveyor to the Council. Town Hall, Braintree May, 1955 Mr Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, I have the honour to present this Annual Report on the Health and Vital Statistics of your District for the year 1954. The report shows that once again the year has been one of good health. Sanction has been given for the putting in hand of the schemes for sewerage and sewage disposal for Takeley and Little Hallingbury and it seems that sanction for the some work at Bamston may not be long delayed. The main problem at present is the formation of a scheme for the dealing with and clearance of dwellings of the lowest category. Little can be done without provision being made for the rehousing of tenants, who, it seems must be mostly rehoused by the Council in their houses. In the meantime, every encouragement is being given to owners to reconstruct their property with the aid of grants. There must, for many years, remain small cottages without many modem conveniences. As these will be the only houses in the future that can be let at low rents, they will remain of value to the district, but they must be kept under constant supervision and maintained in a condition that is not prejudicial to good health. The writing of this report constitutes my last duty after having served the Council for over two years. May I, therefore, take the opportunity of thanking the Committee for the kindness and consideration that they have shown me and commend to them those members of their Staff with whom I have had such a happy association. I am, Mr Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, Your Obedient Servant, J.S.RANSON Medical Officer of Health 1 STATISTICS AND LOCAL CONDITIONS OF THE AREA Area (in acres) ... 72,511 Population (Registrar General*s estimate) ... 19,250 Number of houses according to rate books ... 6,250 (of which 218 were empty on 10th October) Rateable value ... ... £97,192 Sum represented by a penny rate (estimated) ... £400 Dunmow England Live Births Total Male Female Legitimate 297 155 142 Illegitimate 14 6 8 Still Births 725 R.D.C. & Wales Birth rate per 1,000 of estimated resident population 16.15 15.2 Birth rate corrected by comparability figure of 1.05 16.957 Still birth rate per 1,000 live and still births 22.01 24.0 Deaths (Registrar General's estimate) 192 Death rate per 1,000 resident population 9.9 11.3 Death rate corrected by comparability figure of ,82 8.1 Deaths of infants under 1 year of age Death rate of infants under 1 year of age per 1,000 live 7 birtha Death rate of legitimate infants per 1,000 legitimate live 22.5 25.5 births Death rate of illegitimate infants per 1,000 illegitimate live 16.8 births 142.8 Deaths from Cancer (all ages) 29 Deaths from Measles (all ages) - Deaths from Whooping Cough (all ages) - DEATHS AT VARIOUS AGE G-ROUPS DURING- 1954 (Registered and Transferred) Age Group Registered | No. of Deaths Transferred Under 1 year ! 2 5 1 and under 2 years - 1 2 and under 5 years. - 5 and under 15 years 2 15 and under 25 years - 3 25 and under 35 years - 1 1 35 and under 45 years 1 6 45 and under 55 years 3 9 55 and -under 65 years ! 1 7 9 65 and under 75 years j 23 25 75 and upwards 1 64 31 Total i 100 92 The Table belavv was compiled from figures supplied by the Registrar-General and the Classification is given under thirty-six headings based on the Abbreviated List of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Injuries and Causes of Death, 198 Cause of death Male Female 1. Tuberculosis, respiratory * • • 1 2. Tuberculosis, other • • • - - 3. Sypdiilitic disease • • • - - 4. Diphtheria t • • - - 5* Whooping Cough • • 1 - - 6. Meningococcal infections • • • - - 7* Acute poliomyelitis • • • - - 8. Measles • • • - - 9. Other infective and parasitic diseases • • • 1 - 10. Malignant neoplasm, stomach • • « 3 - 11. Malignant neoplasm, lung, bronchus • • t 2 - 12. Malignant neoplasm, breast • ft - 4 13. Malignant neoplasm., uterus • • • - - 14. Other malignant and lymphatic neoplasms • • • 13 7 13. Leukaemia, aleukaemia • t • - 1 16. Diabetes • • 0 1 1 17. Vascular lesions of nervous system • • • 6 9 18. Coronary disease, angina • • • 12 10 19. Hypertension with heart disease • • • 9 - 20. Other heart disease • • • 16 23 21. Other circulatory disease • • 9 10 7 22. Influenza • • • 1 - 23. Pneumonia • • • 2 3 24. Bronchitis • • • 2 2 25. Other diseases of respiratory system • • • 1 - 26. Ulcer of stomach and duodenum • • • 1 2 27. Gastritis, enteritis and diarrhoea • • « - 2 28. Nephritis and nephrosis • • • 2 1 29. Hyperplasia of prostate • • • 3 - 30. Pregnancy, childbirth, abortion • • • - 1 31. Congenital malformations • • • 3 1 32. Other defined and ill-defined diseases • • t 8 13 33. Motor vehicle accidents • • • 2 1 34. All other accidents • • • 1 3 35. Suicide • • • 1 - 36. Homicide and operations of war • • • All causes 101 911 2. EBEVAEENCE AND CONTROL OVER INFECTIOUS AND OTHER DISEASES Cases of Infectious Disease notified in 1954;- Total cases notified Cases admitted to Hospital Total Deaths Scarlet Fever 7 1 - Whooping Cough 106 - - Measles 9 - - Acute Encephalitis 1 1 - Acute Pneumonia 21 1 - Dysentery 3 1 - Erysipelas 3 - - Puerperal Pyrexia 1 - - Infective Hepatitis 14 - - Totals 165 4 ■ - - - - - < - Pood Poisoning There were no notifications of Pood Poisoning during 1954. TUBERCULOSIS - CASES NOTIFIED DURING 1954 Age Periods Pulmonary Non-pulmonary Male Female Male Femal Under 1 year - - - - 1 and under 5 years - 2 - 5 and under 10 years - - 1 10 and under 15 years 1 - - 15 and under 20 years - 1 - 20 and under 25 years 1 - - 1 ! 25 and under 35 years. 2 - - 35 and under 45 year a - - - - 45 and under 55 years 4 1 - _ 55 and under 65 years - 1 - - 65 and upwards 1 1 _ Totals 9 6 1 1 — Of these cases 4 were cases re-notified on taking up residence in this District. DEATHS FROM TUBERCULOSIS Pulmonary • • • Male 1 Female - N on-pulmonary • • • Male - Female - Total: 1 3 PERSONS IN NEED OF CARE AND ATTENTION National Assistance Act, 1948, section 47 During the year the Council considered the circumstances of the following aged people who were in need of proper care and attention:- a man aged years at Broxted a man aged 82 years at Stebbing a woman aged 78 years at Thaxted two women aged 86 and 79 living together at Thaxted, The man at Broxted entered St James’ Hospital, Saffron Walden and the man at Stebbing entered St Michael’s Hospital, Braintree, both voluntarily. Application was made to the Courts for an order under Section 47 for the removal of the woman at Thaxted, The order was granted and she was taken to Haymead's Hospital, Bishop’s Stortford, for a period of three months. During her absence her cottage was cleaned up and she went home after her discharge from hospital. Application was also made to the Courts for a Section 47 order for the two women living together and the order was grar.ted. The elder woman was blind and was removed to Haymead’s Hospital, Bishop’s Stortford, and the other was taken to St James’ Hospital, Saffron Walden, where they still remain. Although neither wished to be moved it is understood that they have settled down in their new homes. Public Health Department The Council Offices Dunmow May, 1955 Mr Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, I beg to present to you the annual report of the work of the Department during the year of 1954. Once again the year was a record one for the completion of houses., 185 houses being completed which was an increase of 33 over the previous year. The total number of private houses completed, 64, was the highest for any year since the war and points the way to the increased part that private building is now taking in house erection especially since the end of building licensing in November. 121 Council houses were completed showing on increase of 10 over the previous year. With the decrease in council building expected in 1955 will come the re-starting of a slum clearance campaign and the placing of greater emphasis on the repair and improvement of existing dwellings, under the provisions of the Housing Repairs and Rents Act, 1954. The Minister has asked for a detailed statement on the progress made on slum clearance to be included In this and future annual reports as was done before the War. The new borehole at Armitage Bridge, Thoxted, came into operation during the year and main laying under Contract P.L.16 was completed. Work commenced on the new 230,000 gallon water tower at High Easter and also on the final main laying contract, F.L.17, under the Council*s Comprehensive scheme. These contracts will complete the Council111 s proposals with the exception of water softening installations for which Ministry approval was still awaited. The modernisation of Great Dunmow Sewage Works and the enlargement of Pelsted Sewage Yforks was completed during the year. It was not possible to start actual construction work on any sewerage schemes by the end of the year although a number of them had reached contract document stage. It is hoped that starting dates for the Upper Chelmer Valley; Takeley; Little Hallingbury and Bamston schemes will be given in 1955. The inspection of houses for the slum clearance and repair schemes mentioned above continued. The meat inspection duties of the department increased during the year with the abolition of meat rationing in July. With the Bacon Factory and the 7 private slaughter-houses it was necessary for some 75,500 carcases to be inspected to maintain the 10C$ inspection of all animals killed. There was no change in the staff of the Department during the year. Details of the work carried out by the department during the year are given in the following pages. In conclusion I would like to thank the Council for their confidence and the staff for their loyalty and assistance during the year, I remain, Mr Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, Your obedient Servant, H. B. GARDNER Chief Sanitary Inspector SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OP THE AREA WATER The water supplies in the area were adequate and were obtained from the Council's boreholes at Mill Lane, Great Dunmow, and Borough Bridge and Armitage Bridge, Thaxted. The parishes of Hatfield Broad Oak, Great Hallingbury and Little Hallingbury were supplied by the Herts and Essex Water Company. 19 samples were taken during the year for bacteriological and chemical examination and these were found to be satisfactory. Reports on four of these samples by the Counties Public Health Laboratories appear below:- Dunmow Pumping Station supply Tap in Dunmow pumping house - Borehole supply for public use Chemical Results in Parts per Million Appearance: Clear and bright Colour: Nil pH 7.2 Electric Conductivity: 710 Chlorine present as Chloride; Hardness: Total 325 Nitrate Nitrogen: 0,0 Ammoniacal Nitrogen: 0,000 Albuminoid Nitrogen: 0.000 Metals: Absent Turbidity: Nil Odour: Nil Free Carbon Dioxide: 29 Total Solids: 475 45 Alkalinity as Calcium Carbonate: Carbonate 310 Non-Carbonate Nitrite Nitrogen: less than 0.01 Oxygen Absorbed: 0,05 Residual Chlorine: 0,07 310 15 Bacteriological Results No. of Colonies developing 1 day at 37°C 2 days at 37°C 3 days at 20°C on Agar; 0 per ml. 0 per ml. ,.. per ml. Presumptive Coli-aerogenes Present in Absent from Erobable no. Reaction ml 100 ml 0 per 100 ml Bact, coli (Type 1) - ml 100 ml 0 per 100 ml Cl. welchii Reaction ... ml ... ml This sample is clear and bright in appearance, neutral in reaction and free; from metals. The water is very hand in character but its hardness and its content of mineral and saline constituents in solution are not excessive. Its organic quality and bacterial purity are of a high standard. These results are normal for the Dunmow Pumping Station and the water is considered pure and wholesome in character and suitable for public supply purposes 2nd December, 1954 Counties Public Health Laboratories, 1? Thaxted Pumping, Station supply (Borough Bridge) Tap off main - 46 High Street, Dunmow Chemical Results in Parts per Million Appearance: Bright with very few mineral particles Turbidity: less than 3 Colour: Nil Odour; Nil pH: 7.3 Free Carbon Dioxide: 21 Electric Conductivity: 7^0 Total Solids: 510 Chlorine present as Chloride: 36 Alkalinity as Calcium Carbonate: Hardness: Total Nitrate Nitrogen: Ammoniacal Nitrogen: Albuminoid Nitrogen: Metals: Absent 430 Carbonate 3 00 0*0 Nitrite Nitrogen: 0.013 Oxygen Absorbed; 0.000 Residual Chlorine: Bacteriological Results Non-carbonate Absent 0.10 Absent 300 130 Mo. of Colonies developing on Agar: Presumptive Coli-aerogenes Reaction Bact. coli (Type l) Cl, welchii Reaction 1 day at 37 C 2 days at 37 0 3 days at 20 C 4 per ml. 4 per ml. ... per ml, Present in Absent from Probable No. ml. ml. ml. 100 ml. 100 ml. ... ml. 0 0 per 10OrrO per iOQml This sample is practically clear and bright in appearance, neutral in reaction and free from metals. The water is very hand in character but its hardness and its content of mineral and saline constituents in solution are not excessive It conforms to the highest standard of organic quality and it is of very satisfactory bacterial purity. These results are indicative of a water which is pure and wholesome in character and suitable for drinking and domestic purposes. 23rd July, 1954 Counties Public Health Laboratories Thaxted Pumping Station supply (Armitage Bridge) Thaxted (Armitage Bridge borehole) pumping station Chemical Results in Parts per Million Appearance: Bright with a very slight yellow-brown deposit. Microscopic examination shows amorphous ferruginous mineral particles with fibrous organic debris. Turbidity: less than 3 Colour: Nil Odour: Very faintly earthy pH: 7.1 Free Carbon Dioxide: 33 Electric Conductivity: 690 Total Solids: 46O Chlorine present as Chloride: Hardness: Total 390 Nitrate Nitrogen: 0.0 Ammoniacal Nitrogen: 0,000 Albuminoid Nitrogen: 0,000 26 Alkalinity as Calcium Carbonate: Carbonate 290 Non-Carbonate Nitrite Nitrogen: less than 0.01 Oxygen, absorbed: 0.15 Residual. Chlorine: absent Metals: Iron: 0.20, other metals absent, 290 100 Bacteriological Results No. of colonies developing 1 day at 37°C 2 days at 37°C 3 days at 20°C on Agar: 18 per ml, , 21 per ml. ... per ml. Pre sumptive Coli-aerogenes Present in Absent from Probable no. Reaction - ml. 100 ml. 0 per 100 ml Bact. coli (Type l) - ml. 100 ml. 0 per 100 ml. Cl. welchii Reaction ... ml. ... ml. This sample is practically clear and bright in appearance, neutral in reaction and free from metals apart from a minute trace of iron. The water is very hard in character but its hardness and its content of mineral and saline constituents in solution are not excessive. It conforms to the highest standard of organic quality and is of satisfactory bacterial purity. These results are indicative of a water which is pure and wholesome in character and suitable for public supply purposes, apart from the disadvantages of the high hardness. 22nd December, 1954- Counties Public Health Laboratories Herts and Essex Water Company Supply Tap (main), 3 Dunmow Road, Hatfield Broad Oak Chemical Results in Parts per Million Bright with very few mineral particles Nil Appearance: Colour: pH: 7.3 Electric Conductivity: 660 Chlorine present as Chloride: Hardness: Total 360 Nitrate Nitrogen: 0.0 Ammoniacal Nitrogen: 0,000 Albuminoid Nitrogen: 0.000 26 Turbidity: less than 3 Odour: Nil Free Carbon Dioxide: 21 Total Solids: 140 Alkalinity as Calcium Carbonate: Carbonate 300 Nitrite Nitrogen: Oxygen Absorbed: Residual Chlorine; Non-Carbonate less than 0,01 0,00 absent 300 60 Metals: Iron 0,03, other metals absent. No, of Colonies developing on Agar Presumptive Coli-aero gene s Bacteriological Results o. 1 day at 37 C 0 per ml. Present in 14 2 days at 37 C 0 per ml. Absent from 3 days at 20 C ... per ml Probable No, Bact, coli (Type 1) - ml, 1.00 ml, 0 per 100 ml. Cl, welchii Reaction ,,, ml, ... ml. This sample is practically clear and bright in appearance, neutral in reaction and free from metals apart from a negligible trace of iron. The water is very hard in character but its hardness and its content of mineral and saline constituents in solution are not excessive. Its organic quality and bacterial purity are of a high standard. These results are indicative of a water which is pure and wholesome in character and suitable for drinking and domestic purposes, 26th May, 1954 Counties Public Health Laboratories, Main Y/ater Supplies On the following page will be found a schedule showing by parishes the houses and estimated population which have main wafer supplies. The number of houses and estimated population supplied by standpipes are also shown, POPULATION IN EACH PARISH ON MAIN SUPPLY Parish No. of houses Est. Pop. Houses on Main supply Est. pop. on Main Supply Houses. vd.th Standpipes Aythorpe Roding 62 201 36 126 1 Little Bardfield 75 212 57 180 1 Bamston 99 310 81 283 2 Broxted 181 495 147 514 1 Great Canfield 124 348 96 306 5 Little Canfield 109 333 88 288 3 Chickney 11 30 - - - Great Bunmow 1171 ! 3671 1 1047 3440 9 Little Dunmow 130 ! 376 96 326 8 Great Easton 249 716 20 6 668 5 Little Easton 118 ; 331 83 289 5 Pelsted 640 1990 523 1830 8 Great Hallingbury 230 j 782 157 549 5 Little Hallingbury 274 876 1 250 800 4 Hatfield Broad Oak 644 1983 511 1788 6 High Easter 212 585 165 498 12 High Roding 120 393 106 351 4 Leaden Roding 98 260 93 240 2 Lindsell 74 227 70 210 6 Margaret Roding 64 203 55 185 4 Stebbing 352 IO63 272 946 17 Takeley 386 us? 311 1283 5 Thaxted 677 1890 614 1760 2 Tilty 24 69 9 31 - White Roding 106 353 81 283 - 6250 ! 19070 5154 17174 115 Waterworks Uacler1taking Quantities of Water pumped; Eurmow Waterworks Thaxted ViTaterworks 40,134,000 gallons 140.140.900 gallons 180.274.900 gallons Repairs and connections: No. of new domestic connections to mains • • • 166 No. of new metered supplies • t • 24 No. of repaired services • • ® 83 No. of repaired mains • • • 13 Main extensions: The following extensions were made to the Council* s water mains during the year:- Thaxted Pumping Station to Armitage Bridge Borehole (6") 1050 yards Thaxted Pumping Station to Dunmow Road, Thaxted (6") 1220 yards White Roding to Philpots (3") 2600 yards Cutlers Green Tower to Broadfans (6") 1270 yards Wises to Whiteheads (3") 220 yards Rosemary Close, Dunmow (3") 75 yards The Crescent, Leaden Roding (3") 143 yards Cranham Road, Broxted (3") 26 yards Rainfall Details of the yearns rainfall are given at the end of the Report on page 38. Bunmow and Thaxted Pumping Stations Your plants at these stations worked satisfactorily throughout the year. The borehole pump No.2, at Thaxted was lowered during the year to accord with the No.1. pump which was lowered in 1950, Comprehensive Post War Water Scheme New Borehole at Armitage Bridge, Thaxted The pumping machinery was installed during the year and the rising main completed and the borehole come into operation. It is an 18" diameter bore sunk to a depth of J>60 feet and the output of the electric submersible pump is 7,500 gallon per hour. It provides on additional source of supply for the 23 miles of mains laid and being laid under Contracts P.L.16 and P.L.17. Poplar Water Tower, High Easter The Ministry of Housing and Local Government approved the construction of this 250,000 gallon water tower, to provide additional storage facilities in the Southern part of the Distract, and work duly commenced at Poplar Farm, High Easter, By the end of the year the outer columns had been erected up to a height of 14 feel Main laying Contract P.L.16 This small contract of main laying vra.s completed during the year with the completion of the rising main from Thaxted Pumping Station to the new Borehole and the laying of a 6" main from the Pumping Station to Dunmow Road, Thaxted, Main laying Contract P.L.17 The Ministry of Housing and Local Government approved the commencement of this contract during the year. It comprises some 18 miles of mains as follows: 6" - Cutlers Green Tower to Broadfans Form, Great Easton 6" - Tilty to Cox Hill, Great Easton 4" - Cox Hill to Duck Street, Little Easton 4" - Church End, Dunmow, to Bran End, Stebbing 3" - Tile House Farm to Gronsmore Green, Felsted 3" - Watch House to Stones Farm, Stebbing 3" - Axe and Compasses to Loves Farm, Aythorpe Roding 3" - Axe and Compasses to Keeres Green, Aythorpe Boding 4" - Hounslow Green to Shouldo Hall, Bamston 6” - Station Road, Dunmow 3" - High Roding to Bury Farm, High Roding 3" - Bartholomew Green, Felsted 3" - Newbiggen Street to Fox & Hounds and Terriers Farm, Thaxted 3" - Langthomes to Little Langthomes, Little Canfield 3" - Gransmore Green to Greenfields Farm, Felsted 3" - Wises to Whiteheads, Hatfield Broad Oak By the end of the year* the extensions from White Roding to Philpots and Wises to Whiteheads had been completed and work was proceeding on the length from Cutlers Green Tower to Broadfans Farm, This contract will complete the whole of the Council1s proposals for main laying contained in their comprehensive scheme. Water Softening The remaining proposals in the comprehensive scheme are the Water Softening Plants at Dunmow and Thaxted Pumping Stations but at the end of the year the Ministry had not made known their decision in this matter, SEWERAGE AND SEWAGE DISPOSAL Pollution of Streams Streams which have been polluted for years continued to be polluted. The main areas of pollution were:- Chelmer Watershed River Chelmer at Thaxted, Duton Hill, Great Easton and Little Easton, Bamston Brook at Bamston, Lee Watershed Eincey Brook at Takeley Street, It is hoped that this pollution will cease when the Upper Chelmer Valley Bamston and Takeley schemes are authorised and carried out. Extensions of Sewers The following extensions were made to the Council1 s sewers during the year:- Chaffix, Pelsted 440 yards Bran End Fields, St ebbing 190 yards Cranhom Road, Broxted 73 yards Connections to Sewers Luring the year 125 premises were connected to the Council’s sewers as shown below:- Broxted 6 Hatfield Broad Oak 2 Stebbing 13 Great Dunmow 25 Sewage Works Felsted Hatfield Heath Thaxted Little Dunmow 43 8 27 1 Satisfactory effluents were obtained from the sewage works at Hatfield Broad Oak and Hatfield Heath, Towards the end of the year satisfactory results wen also obtained from the works at Great Dunmow and Felsted which were then settling down after completion of constructional work, Thaxted works continued to yield unsatisfactory effluents and it is hoped that these works will soon be abandoned. The works at Great Easton were not in use and the disposal plants at Little Canfiel : and Broxted were satisfactory. Unsatisfactory effluents were obtained from the plant at Duton Hill, The pumping stations at Church End, Dunmow; Cage End and Feathers Hill, Hatfield Broad Oak; Bran End, Stebbing and Sewards Hall, Felsted, were working satisfactorily. Comprehensive Sewerage Scheme Stebbing Sewerage Scheme - Contract 7 Notices were served on the owners of properties in Stebbing under sectii 47 of the Public Health Act, 1936, to convert earth closets to water closets and connect to the new sewer where this had not been done. The work was in progress, at most of the properties by the end of the year. The work of enlarging Felsted Sewage Disposal Works to take the flow from Stebbing was completed. The Council agreed to make a new access road to these works; install an additional pump and convert the works to electricity and the Ministry gave authority for this work to be carried out. It is intended to obtain a price for the work from the successful tenderer for the Upper Chelmer Valley scheme. Great Dunmow Sewage Disposal Works - Contract 8 The work of re-building and modernising these Works was completed during the year. Upper Chelmer Valley Scheme - Contract 9 Tenders for this scheme were obtained in 1951 hut the starting date was cancelled. During 1954 the Ministry of Housing and Local Government gave authority for the work to proceed and tenders were re-invited and the lowest of Messrs W, & C, French Ltd was submitted to the Ministry for approval. Whereas the earlier tender was for the main sewer down the valley, the pumping station and rising main only, this latest tender included the lateral sewers in Great Ee.ston and Duton Hill and the Ministry asked for further reports and documents supporting this larger scheme. These were being prepared at the end of the year with a view to all the work, including the repair of the existing ex-R,A.F. sewage works at Great Easton, being carried out as one scheme. This will include the demolition of the Thaxted Works. Bamston - Contract 10 Tenders for this scheme were obtained in 1952 but the Ministry would not allow it to proceed at that time. In reply to a request that permission be given for the work to commence sent at the end of the year they replied asking for additional information and it is hoped that this means that the work will be started in 1955. Takeley and Little Hallingbury The completed documents for both of these schemes were sent to the Ministry during the year and in December an Engineering Inspector of the Ministry held an investigation at the Council Offices into these schemes and visited the site,'! Their decision was awaited at the end of the year. White Roding Agreement was reached during the year on the sites for the proposed sewa,( works ond pumping station and the documents and drawings for the scheme were being revised and completed by the Council1s Consulting Engineers at the end of the year. Causeway End. Felsted The Ministry wrote to infozm the Council that this scheme would be considered for approval during the financial year 1956/7. It is a gravity sewer frc j the hamlet to the existing works at Felsted. High Easter The site for the pumping station was acquired during the year and agreeirii had been reached on the site for the sewage disposal works. The documents for the scheme had been submitted to the Ministry and only the County Council’s comments anc, j the District Valuer1 s report on the works site were awaited to complete the proposal*, Willows Green, Felsted Despite a year of negotiations with land owners it was still not possibl • to obtain a site for the proposed sewage disposal works by the end of the year. High Roding Negotiations continued at the end of the year with land owners for site;* t, for the proposed sewage works and pumping station, 15] Monk Street, Thaxted Documents for this scheme were completed and submitted to the Ministry by the end of the year. It is hoped that the work will be carried out in conjunction with the Upper Chelmer Valley sewer to which it will connect. Bannister Green, Felsted Documents for this small scheme, which is in effect on extension to the existing sewer network in Felsted, were received and submitted to the Ministry for approval. No reply had been received by the end of the year. Little Easton The documents for this scheme which comprises the sewerage of Duck Street and Butcher" s Pasture have been received and at the end of the year the comments of the County Council were awaited so that the scheme could be submitted to the Ministry for approval. Hatfield Broad Oak and Hatfield Heath The plans and documents for this scheme were received but it had not j been possible at the end of the year to submit the scheme to the Ministry or to the | Lee Conservancy Catchment Board owing to the failure in finding a willing land owner to sell a site for the Pumping Station, The scheme comprises the abandonment of Hatfield Broad Oak works; the piping of the flow from Hatfield Broad Oak to Stonebridge, Hatfield Heath; the sewering of Chelmsford Road, Hatfield Heath to Stonebridge; the erection of a pumping station and the connection of both flows to the existing works at Hatfield Heath. Other Schemes The Council’a Consulting Engineers were engaged in the preparation of I schemes for Broxted, Lindsell, Little Bardfield, Leaden Roding, Margaret Roding, Great Hallingbury and Aythorpe Roding at the end of the year. Although most of the paper work for tiie comprehensive sewerage scheme was completed during 1954 it was net possible for any work of actual construction to be started. There were frustrating delays in the acquisition of land for sewage; works and pumping stations and with regard to the schemes in the Essex River Board | area we were awaiting their decision as to whether they would require sand filters, It is hoped that it will be possible for a start to be made on Contracts 9 and 10 and on Takeley and Little Hallingbury schemes during 1955. PUBLIC CLEANSING- Tiie collection of house refuse was maintained during the year. The work was done by a crew of 6 men with two rear loading compressing vehicles and an open truck. The truck was taken off the road and a new rear loading compressor wij a diesel engine was on order at the end of the year. The collection is once week! in the Lighting Areas of Great Dunmow, Pelsted and Thaxted, and once fortnightly in the remainder of the District. 8,604 yards of refuse were collected compared with 7;986 yards in 1953. There were 185 extra houses to collect from during the year. The refuse was tipped in the disused gravel pits at Merks Hill, Great Dunmc by arrangement with the owner and he arranged for bull-dozing as necessary. Durin suitable weather, ponds at Pelsted and Little Canfield were filled, SALVAGE The collection of waste paper was continued during the year and bali; was carried out in the garage in the Council lard, 70 tons 8 cwts of waste paper were collected and despatched to the Mils at Purfleet and credits for £479.2,4. were received. This is £120 more than in 1953. As the price per ton has increase and the demand for waste paper is growing the collection of paper is being stimulated with a view to 100 tons being collected in 1955. SANITARY INSPECTION OP THE DISTRICT The Council’s Sanitary Inspectors made 4,064 visits and inspections in the course of the year. Details of these are given below Complaints received ... Inspections under Housing Acts ... Housing applications verified ... Inspections under Public Health Acts Tents, Vans and Sheds ,.. Places of Amusement ... Schools ... Offensive accumulations ,.. Water supplies ... Drainage ... Sewage Disposal ... Cesspools, Septic Tanks and Pail Closets Ditches ... Refuse disposal ... Infectious Disease prevention ... Factories and Workshops ... Shops .,. Slaughter-houses and Knackers’ Yards Other Meat and Pood Visits ... Cafes and restaurants ... Dairies ... Hotels and public houses ... Rodent Control visitsand re-visits Conversion of Earth Closets ... Petroleum Acts .., 25 197 265 108 1,249 269 3 8 46 115 167 126 74 42 18 27 44 81 656 84 20 24 8 362 67 4 Nuisances detected and Notices served Nuisances detected .104 Informal notices served ... 28 Notices outstanding 1st January, 1954 .. 64 Notices outstanding 31st December, 1954 .. 56 Statutory Notices served ... 6 Legal proceedings .., Nil SHOPS The inspection of shops under the Shops Act, 1950, was carried out during the year but no formal action was necessary. There were 173 shops entered in the Council’s register. One Certificate of Exemption was granted during the year. SMOKE ABATEMENT No action was necessary under this heading during the year. PUBLIC CONVENIENCES Public Conveniences are situated in Great Dunmcw and Thaxted. An income of seme £80 was received from them during the year. BURIAL OP THE DEAD Arrangements were made for the burial of one person during the year under the provisions section 50 of the National Assistance Act, 1948* This brings the total to 11 since the passing of the Act, in which arrangements for burial were made by the Council. under INFECTIOUS DISEASE Disinfections after cases of Infectious Disease were carried out as Private houses. ... 5 RODENT CONTROL The following Eire details of action taken under the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, 194-9:- Type of Property •U0 UcHXS Local Authority Dwelling houses Agric- ultural Business premises Total nisea inspected as a result of Lfication — 75 6 9 90 nises inspected as a result of vey under the Act 8 5 3 2 18 iber of properties found to be issted with rats: Major infestations Minor infestations 8 36 6 9 59 jher of properties found to be iiously infested with mice - 5 - 8 13 mer of infested premises treated dhe Council* s Sanitary Inspectors 8 4-1 6 17 72 iper of notices served under Sectic f the Act n 3 - 3 — 182 re-visits were also carried out. In addition to the above, treatments were carried out at the refuse L3 at Merks Hill, Great Dunmow, which are privately owned. The Council's mobile sewerage gong carried out tests and treatments u percentage of the public sewers in Hatfield Broad Oak, Hatfield Heath, Pelsted, ile Dunmow, Great Dunmow, Thaxted, Little Canfield and Broxted. The systems in six Ebhe villages were free from infestation and are to be left until 1956. Those in Great now and Thaxted are to be treated again during 1955* VERMIN 38 premises were disinfested during the year after complaints of infestation by either fleas, bugs, flies or ants, The standard form of treatment was spray with a 5 per cent solution of D,D,T,, or Gammexane Smoke Generators, No major problem occurred. Disinfestation of bedding was carried out as necessary in the plant maintained by Braintree H,D,C, or at Haymoadfs Hospital, Bishop’s Stortford. PETROLEUM AMD CARBIDE OP CALCIUM At the end of the year there were 140 licences issued for the storage of petroleum (including 29 for re-sale), and 2 licences for the storage of Carbide of Calcium, FACTORIES Particulars of the premises registered by the Council under the Factories 1937, and of the inspections made are to be found as follows;- INSPECTIONS for purposes of provisions as to health (including inspections made by Sanitary Inspectors) Premises Number on j Number of Register Inspections j 1 Written notice s Occupiers prosecuted Factories in which Sections 1,2,3,4 and 6 are to be enforced by Local Authorities 44 — ! I . 1 Factories not included in (i) in which Section 7 is enforced by the Local Authority 80 36 ! Other premises in which ! Section 7 is enforced by the Local Authority (excluding out-workers premises) ; 1 | i ! Totals 124 44 l j i ~ i i i !ASES in which DEFECTS were found Particulars Number of cases in which defects were found Number of cases in Found Remedied Referred which pros- 1 1 to H.M. Inspector | by H.M. i Inspector ecutions were instituted lof cleanliness (S.l) 4 3 crowding (S.2) - - - “ tsonable temperatures (S.3) - - - equate ventilation (S,4) a ary conveniences (S.7) — — £ insufficient - - - - - I unsuitable or defective 5 3 - - c not separate for sexes e offences (not including sees rela.ting to out- _ krs) - - - - - Totals 9 6 1 i - - DEFERS There were no out-workers in the district during the year. I TENTS, VMS MD SHEDS At the end of the year, in addition to seasonal workers in agriculture, sites were used at:- — Parish Sites ] Vans Tents Huts Adults - Childtr Aythorpe Roding 2 3 2 2 8 5 Bamston 1 1 1 2 1 Broxted 2 2 1 3 1 Little Canfield 4 5 - 1 9 3 Great Euamow 8 8 - - 17 4 Pelsted 5 5 - 4 9 2 j Great Hallingbury 4 4 - 1 7 1 Hatfield Broad Oak 1 1 - - 2 2 Hatfield Heath 3 9 1 1 17 12 High Roding 1 - - 2 - II Leaden Roding 2 2 - - 1 - Stebbing 5 13 1 1 2 | 30 Ijj Takeley 12 45 I 4 80 3* Thaxted 7 7 | 1 10 J White Roding 4 4 2 . 10 1 Totals 61 110 — 5 20 209 8 c 60 of the sites have access to main water supply and 1 site has a water supply from a well. The sanitary accommodation is 52 earth or chemical closets, and1 ’ ' ! i 10 water closets. Approximately one-half of the vans are situated in the two parishes of j Stebbing and Takeley, HOUSING building New building during 1954- was as follows Number of Council houses completed .,. Number of houses erected by Housing Associations ,.. Number of private houses completed ... Number of Council houses under construction at end of year Number of Council houses approved but not commenced at end of year Number of private houses under construction at end of year Number of private houses with plans approved but not commenced at end of year 109 12 64 34 10 35 30 Housing Act 1949 - Improvement Grants At the end of the year improvement grants for 50 private dwellings had been approved totalling £12,541.12.4. Improvement grants had also been approved for two cottages owned by the Council. Housing applications There were 375 applications for Council houses at 31 at December, 1954. Building Licensing The control on building licensing was lifted on 10th November, 1954. During the years that the Council were responsible for the issue of licences, 2755 licences were issued and the total monetary value was £806,852, Council houses The total number of houses owned by the Council at the end of the year was:- Pre-War houses Cottages purchased post- war Post-War houses 675 6 648 1329 and 1 pre war cottage. Total new building since the War The total number of houses built since the War in the District is;- Council houses ... 648 Housing Associations .., 12 Private houses ... 255 Essex County Council ... 18 22 Housing Acts - Slum Clearance As instructed in various Ministry of Housing and local Government circulars and in the Housing Repairs and Rents Act, 1954, a start was made during the year on slum clearance with a view to the preparation of a scheme to be submitted to the Minister in 1955• The tabular statement required by the Housing Consolidated Regulations, 1925, as extended, is given below:- 1, Inspection of Dwelling Houses during the year (1) (a) Total number of dwelling houses inspected for housing defects (under Public Health or Housing Acts) (b) Number of inspections made for the purpose (2) (a) Number of dwelling houses (included under sub-head (l) above) which were inspected and recorded under the Housing Consolidated Regulations 1925 and 1932 (b) Number of inspections made for the purpose (3) Number of dwelling houses found to be in a state so dangerous or injurious to health as to be unfit for human habitation (4) Number of dwelling houses (exclusive of those referred to under the preceding sub-head) found not to be in all respects reasonably fit for human habitation • • • • • t • • • • • • 2. Remedy of Defects during the year without service of Formal Notices Number of defective dwelling houses rendered fit in consequence of informal action by the Local Authority or their Officers 228 408 136 262 24 30 3R 3, Action -under Statutory Powers during the year A - Proceedings under Sections 9,10 and 16 of the Housing Act, 1936:- (1) Number of dwelling houses in respect of which notices were served requiring repairs ., (2) Number of dwelling houses which were rendered fit after service of formal notices:- ’a) By owners ., ,b) By Local Authority in default of owners •, B - Proceedings under Public Health Acts:- (1) Number of dwelling houses in respect of which notices were served requiring defects to be remedied ., (2) Number of dwelling houses in which defects were remedied after service of formal notices:- (a) By owners •, (b) By Local Authority in default of owners ., C — Proceedings under Sections 11 and 13 of the Housing Act, 1936:- (1) Number of dwellings houses in respect of which Demolition Orders were made •, (2) Number of dwelling houses demolished in pursuance of Demolition Orders •, 0 1 3 0 0 (3) Number of written undertakings accepted .., D - Proceedings under Section 12 of the Housing Act, 1936: — (1) Number of separate tenements or underground rooms in respect of which Closing Orders were made ,,, (2) Number of separate tenements or underground rooms in respect of which Closing Orders were determined, the tenement or room having been rendered fit ... E - Proceedings under Section 25 of the Housing Act, 1936:- (l) Number of houses in confirmed clearance areas demolished ... 3 P - Proceedings under Housing Act, 1949:- (1) Closing Orders made under Section 3(l) ... 0 (2) Demolition orders determined and Closing orders substituted under Section 3(2) 0 G - Proceedings under Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1933 (l) Closing Orders made under Section 10(l) ... 0 4. Overcrowding - Part IV, Housing Act, 1936 Mo action was taken under this Part during the year. o o NEW LEGISLATION The following Acts, which affect the duties of the Council, were passed in 1954:- Slaughterhouses Act, 1954 Town end Country Planning Act, 1954 Pood and Drugs (Amendment) Act, 1954 Slaughter of Animals (Amendment) Act, 1954 Housing. Repairs and Rents Act, 1954 Byelaws During the year the Council made Byelaws under Section 17 of the Water Act, 1945, for preventing waste, undue consumption, misuse or contamination of water supplied by them. These were confirmed and come into operation on 8th December, 1954. In December the Council passed a resolution to make Byelaws for Sanitary Conditions, Management, and Keeping of Records for Knackers' Yards, The draft Byelaws had been approved by the Ministry by the end of the year. INSPECTION AMD SUPERVISION OP POOD it Inspection With the abolition of meat rationing in July there was a substantial :rease in this branch of the Department1 s work. Slaughtering was carried out ■ularly at the Dunmow Bacon Factory and at the 7 private slaughterhouses, in the strict, ’cases inspected and condemned: Cattle excl. Cows Cows Calves Sheep and Lambs Digs Number killed 806 5 128 840 77,783 H Number inspected 806 5 128 840 77,783 diseases except T,B. Whole carcases condemned - - - - 170 Carcases of which seme part or organ was condemned 41 - 2 12 8,958 Percentage of the number inspected affected with disease other than tuberculosis 5.08% r- 1.57$ 1.43% 11.73$ erculosis only Whole carcases condemned 1 - - - 53 Carcases of which some part or organ was condemned 16 - - 1,768 . Percentage of the number inspected affected with tuberculosis | 1.98% - 2.34% +• Pigs which arrived dead or died in lairs were examined for scheduled diseases but were not inspected for food, ohera* Shops 2501bs of carcase meat was inspected and condemned in butchers’ shops ‘big the year. Deadweight Certification Centres The Ministry of Food approved the slaughterhouse at Hatfield Heath owned by Mr N.G.Reynolds as an ordinary deadweight certification centre for pigs in Novembe of last year. The duties of certification are carried out by the Council’s Meat' Inspectors and all the pigs certified receive any collective guarantee payment-which may be due. This payment is intended to bring the returns to the industry as’’.a "whole up to the standard price fixed at the Annual Review. With certain exceptions'all clean fat pigs which weigh at least 3 score deadweight and are fit for human consump- are eligible for the guarantee- payment. It is likely that further slaughterhouses may become certification "^centre. Slaughter of Animals The number of licences at the end of the year was:- Rrivate Slaughterhouses ... 8 Knackers* lards ... 1 Licensed Slaughter-men ... 32 : „ Other Food During the year the following foodstuffs were found upon inspection in shops etc to be unfit for human consumption and were condemned: - Baby food 82 cartons Meat 25 tins Milk 40 tins Vegetables 8 tins Fruit 27 tins Fish 2 tins Preserves 6 jara Fruit juice 2 tins Cheese 121bs Game Dealers 6 persons were licensed to deal in Game during the year. - . A 24 inspections were mode of the Dairies in the District and 9 samples of Milk milk were taken for analysis. These were satisfactory. There were 18 persons registered in the District as Distributors of Milk and 9 Dairies (not being Dairy Farms) were also registered. Milk Dealers'1 licences Arere in force as under: - ij ■ . to use special designation "Tuberculin tested" ... 9 to use special designation "Pasteurised" ,,, 9 to use special designation "Sterilised" ,,, 6 Supplementary licences to use special designation "Tuberculin tested" ... 3 to use special designation "Pasteurised" ,,, 3 I to use special designation "Sterilised" ... Is Ice Cream iV There were 73 premises registered under the Pood and Drugs Acts for the storage and sale of ice cream in the District. 7 samples were taken for analysis and ,:hese were satisfactory. No manufacture of ice cream was carried on in the District, bakehouses The number of bakehouses in operation at the end of the year was 11. fo unsatisfactory conditions existed other than occasional neglect of limewashing rhich was dealt with as a routine matter, bod Premises There were 19 premises in the District registered for the manufacture ’T preparation of sausages; pressed, pickled and preserved food, and fish frying. afes. Restaurants, Hotels and Public Houses There were 16 cafes and restaurants, and 73 licensed premises (hotels and ublic houses) in the District. Inspections were made during the year but no formal otion was necessary, pod Hygiene There were no cases of food poisoning in the District during the year. Mo clean food campaigns were carried out during the year. The Council adopted Byelaws for the Handling, Wrapping and Delivery : of Food and Sale of Food in the Open Air, in 1951• given below:- BAINFALL The rainfall as recorded at Thaxted Waterworks during the year is January February March 4$i inches .8 1.9 1.73 April May June July August September October November December .12 2.61 r.9i 2/932 3/32 1,66 1.82 3.85' J..98‘ 2^.632 inches The heaviest falls were ,9 inch on 26th July and 25th October. The longest period without rain was the 26 days fran 7th April to 2nd May