[Report 1954] / Medical Officer of Health, Basingstoke Borough.

  • Basingstoke (England). Borough Council.
Date:
1954
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1954] / Medical Officer of Health, Basingstoke Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    6/26 (page 4)
    Housing made normal progress largely in the South Ham Estate area. Of particular interest was the erection of a block of 12 Single Persons' Dwellings on the South View Estate. During the year the Housing Repairs and Rents Act, 1954, was passed. The intention of the Act is to intensify the repair of houses neglected during the war years, and stimulate interest in bringing older houses up to modern standards. There has been a welcome increase in the number of cases taking improve- ment grants for improving the standard and increasing amenities in old property. These are, however, still largely owner- occupiers. Caravans continue to increase in number in the Borough. With the re-introduction of slum clearance schemes it is inevitable that caravans must also receive increasing scrutiny on standards of fitness for habitation. The population of the town is growing rapidly. The increase in population from the 1951 census figure to the estimated mid-1954 figure is almost equivalent to the increase in the previous twenty years. Discussions are taking place as to the possible acceptance of further rapid growth to include a London overspill of about 10-15,000 over the next 10 years. These rapid increases will inevitably tax the sanitary circum- stances of any area. Plans are included for reconstructions and improvements in the water, sewage and refuse undertakings in the event of rapid growth. The open-air swimming bath has had some improvements, and plans for a modern swimming bath must also receive consideration. It is, however, in the existing public conveniences and market arrangements that there is much to be done to give a lead to the local catering establishments and food manufacturing and sales shops for washing facilities and adaptation to hygienic clean food practices, and to enable the Public Health Department to intensify advice and propaganda. My thanks are due to Mr. W. J. Tiley, Senior Sanitary Inspector, the staff of the Public Health Department, and other officers of the Borough Council for their help and co-operation. P. L. KARNEY Medical Officer of Health.