[Report 1957] / Medical Officer of Health, Braintree & Bocking U.D.C.

  • Braintree and Bocking (England). Urban District Council.
Date:
1957
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1957] / Medical Officer of Health, Braintree & Bocking U.D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    7/28 (page 5)
    It is interesting to recall that your Committee first discussed the need for augmenting the water supply as far back as 1938. In 1939 a firm of Consulting Engineers suggested certain possible new sources and it was proposed to sink a bore at Codham Mill. Objections were raised by other water users and with the intervention of the war the scheme had to be shelved. The matter was re-opened after the war, and in 1949, after a Public Enquiry held at Braintree, the Minister of Health refused permission to develop the Codham Mill site on the grounds that the water resources of the area would be over pumped. Alternative sites were investigated but they proved unsatisfactory, and eventually the Ministry withdrew their veto on the Codham site. It was not, however, until 1956 that all objections had been met and sanction obtained to go ahead with the trial bore. I have to thank the Surveyor for much of this information. Sewage Extensive improvements and reconstruction works were completed at the Braintree Sewage Works during 1957. Further information is given later in this report. The Booking Sewage Works are grossly overloaded and it is hoped that it will be possible to tackle this problem at an early date. Housing I am informed by the Housing Officer that there were 540 names on the waiting list for Council houses on 31st December, 1957. Not all of these people are in urgent need of re-housing, but the problem is still a formidable one. Slum Clearance is going ahead albeit rather slowly, and I hope it will be possible to re-house dwellers in condemned houses rather more expeditiously in the coming years. National Assistance Act, 1948, Section 47 It was necessary to have one old lady removed under the provisions of this act. She was living alone in very unhygienic surroundings and was quite unable to look after herself. She was admitted to St. Peter’s Hospital, Maldon, where I understand, she settled down well. It is again a pleasure to record my sincere thanks to the Chairman and members of the Public Health Committee for their support, and to the Chief Public Health Inspector and officers of the Council for their willing support at all times. I am. Yours faithfully, C. R. C. RAINSFORD. Medical Officer of Health.