[Report 1966] / Medical Officer of Health, Whitehaven Borough.

  • Whitehaven (England). Borough Council.
Date:
1966
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1966] / Medical Officer of Health, Whitehaven Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    18/40 (page 16)
    Public Health Department, 53 Duke Street, Whitehaven. To the Medical Officer of Health, WHITEHAVEN. Sir, I wish to submit my sixteenth Annual Report for the year ended 31st December, 1966. The report is set cut in a manner similar to that of previous years and no startling matters can be mentioned, the year being one of routine work and consolidation. Housing, which has always been the most important single function, has fallen from this position with the end of Slum Clear¬ ance on any scale and other fields of work have been substituted. While many substandard houses exist little further progress can be made until the re-development schemes for the town centre emerge more clearly. So far as the numerous fit houses which merit improvements are concerned, it is again necessary to report failure to achieve much headway. Food premises show a rising standard with the elimination of certain old type premises and the improvements carried out to larger establishments. Total meat inspection was carried out and water, milk and ice cream sampled. Generally, standards have advanced and nowhere can any reduction be noticed, either in food premises or in working condi¬ tions in offices and shops. SECTION A. HOUSING. NEW BUILDINGS : One hundred and thirty dwellinghouses were completed by the Corporation during the year and seventy-nine were under construction on 31st December, 1966. Sixty-two dwellinghouses were completed by private builders and twelve were under construction on 31st December, 1966. It is obvious that the past high bui’ding rate cannot be carried on indefinitely because (a) S’um Clearance is nearly completed and (b) general needs show an annual reduction as time gees on, and unless seme novel development takes place to increase the town’s housing need, building must stop.