[Report 1960] / Medical Officer of Health, Ashton-in-Makerfield U.D.C.

  • Ashton-in-Makerfield (England). Urban District Council. n 78087965.
Date:
1960
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1960] / Medical Officer of Health, Ashton-in-Makerfield U.D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    5/28 (page 3)
    ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH 1960 Public Health Department, Town Hall, Ashton-in-Makerfield. To the Chairman and Members of the Ashton-in-Makerfield Urban District Council, Gentlemen, I have the honour to present for your consideration, the eighty-fifth Annual Report on the health and sanitary circumstances of your Urban District for the year 1960. Introduction The District lies somewhere about half way between the large conur- bations of Liverpool and Manchester, contiguous with and to the southern side of Wigan County Borough. The District adjoins those of Haydock, Golborne, Abram and Billinge. There is a gentle slope of the ground from north-west to south-west and the nearest point to the sea is some fourteen miles from it. Geologically the area is of coal measures and Bunter Sandstone. The area is approximately 6.265 acres. Social Conditions Ashton Urban District is part of Number 8 Health Division of the Lancashire County Council and contains fifteen per cent of the total area of the Division and seventeen per cent of the population. The population of Ashton-in-Makerfield Urban District was 19,053 at the Census of 1951 and is now 19,460. In common with Great Britain generally, our population contains an increasing proportion of persons over sixty-five. Throughout the country generally this proportion of over sixty-fives has risen from 11.7% in 1957 to an estimated figure of 16% in 1987. At present the percentage for Ashton-in-Makerfield is approximately 13%. Deep coal mining has now ceased and those engaged in this work now have to travel a distance to mines in other areas. There is textile weaving, rayon manufacture and iron foundry to give employment to the population and agriculture is an important industry. The Rateable Value of property in the Urban District is £157,396, and a penny rate yields £632/0/0d.