[Report 1926] / Medical Officer of Health, Rochester City and Port.

  • Rochester (Kent, England). City and Port Authority.
Date:
1926
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1926] / Medical Officer of Health, Rochester City and Port. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Further particulars are given in the following statements:— HOUSING ACT INSPECTIONS 109 houses, as undermentioned, were inspected and reported upon to the Council uu the provisions of the Housing Acts:— Albert Place 1 George Lane 4 Bartons Alley 15 Grove Road 1 Bill Street Road 1 Henry Street 3 Bryant Road 1 Hoopers Road 13 Burritt Street 1 New Covenant Place 1 Cecil Road 1 Newark Yard 2 Cossack Street 6 Parrs Head Lane 11 Cross Street 1 Prentice Street 1 Deice Road 1 Princes Street 1 Dongola Road 1 Richard Street 2 Edward Street 4 Rose Street 3 Five Bells Lane 22 Water Place 6 Garden Row 6 Total 109 Two houses, Nos. 3 and 4 Newark Yard, were formally closed, but no procedure for Demolition Orders followed, as the owner gave notice of the intention to make the houses fit for human habitation. Extensive improvements, including the complete re-building of the back additions, have been carried out and the owner intends in due course to make application for the Closing Orders to be determined. The 11 houses in Parrs Head Lane are worthy of special mention as having been very greatly improved during the past year. Some of the houses were in such a condition that it was not an economic proposition to make them thoroughly habitable, and all needed extensive repairs, etc. The owners were supplied by me with plans and schedules of work setting out the improvements necessary to make the whole group of houses satisfactory, and, in view of the shortage of small houses in the city, they agreed to carry out all the work rather than appeal for Closing Orders. Three of the houses had the front walls renewed without the rooms being vacated, false fronts being put in while the work was in progress, and all the houses were provided with new wash-houses, new W.C.’s and drainage, as well as being otherwise thoroughly renovated. Nos. 1 to 11 Corporation Street, are other cottages w'hich also were much improved during the past year. The dilapidated outbuildings at rear were demolished and replaced with new wash-houses and W.C.’s, and the conversion of two small congested yards at rear, into one enabled the new buildings to be so placed that a clear air space at the back of the cottages was secured. Each cottage was also fitted with sink and water supply inside, and consequently the sanitary arrangements of the whole block are now better than they have ever been. The other miscellaneous repairs effected, completed the general improvement of the property. SANITARY IMPROVEMENTS In addition to the 109 houses inspected under the Housing Acts, 621 other premises were dealt with on account of existing defects or insanitary conditions. As a result of inspections, 3298 improvements of various kinds were effected on properties in the City during the year. As in past years, close supervision of work being done under notice was exercised, re-inspections and work in progress necessitating 2,394 visits. In view of the advanced stage which the new main drainage scheme has reached, and of the house drainage changes which may be necessitated on its completion, no attempt has been made to compel re-drainage of houses excepting where circumstances made such action unavoidable. 47 houses, however, were completely re-drained under notice from this Department and 25 houses were partly re-diained. In these instances the main drainage plans were first consulted in order that the new drainage might be so arranged as to be capable of being connected later to the new sewers. A full list of the sanitary improvements effected is given below:— Houses re-drained Houses partly re-drained Defective drains repaired Drains unstopped and cleansed New ventilated soilpipes fixed New ventshafts fixed Soilpipes or ventshafts repaired Privies abolished and replaced by W.C.’s ... New W.C. apartments built ... W.C.’s provided with new pans and traps W.C.’s provided wfith flushing apparatus ... W.C. fittings repaired and cleansed New urinals built... Water supply laid on to urinal New cesspool's dug Cesspools enlarged Cesspools repaired Old cesspools filled in New sinks fixed Trapped wastepipes fixed New lavatory basins fixed Water Tests applied ... 178 Smoke Tests applied ... 98 47 25 10 235 14 34 3 25 48 91 67 85 1 2 7 4 20' 9 70 150 9