[Report 1947] / Medical Officer of Health, Middlesbrough County Borough.

  • Middlesbrough (England). County Borough Council.
Date:
1947
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1947] / Medical Officer of Health, Middlesbrough County Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    62/120 (page 60)
    The costs of collection and disposal for the year 1947 from the figures in the Estimates supplied by the Borough Treasurer are as follows :—- Total Cost. Cost per Ton. Cost per House Collection . . £34,563 20/1 d. 19/5d. Disposal .'. £9,527 5/4d. 5/4d. The 376 small bins distributed in 1946 to householders in a suburban district for the reception of Kitchen Waste, continued to give satisfaction to the householders. Of the original 200 Communal bins in the streets, only 100 are in use. With the removal of the street air-raid shelters, it was impossible to find new sites, as a large number of houses abut on to 3 ft. and 9 ft. back streets in which it was impossible to site bins without causing obstruction. Several bins were stolen, but it was not possible to apprehend the culprits. During the inclement weather of January /March, a satisfactory collection service would have been maintained but for the action of householders in piling snow in the back streets, which caused grave inconvenience, not only to the refuse collectors, but to the householders themselves, as it was often found impossible for coal merchants and others to deliver goods. I cannot speak too highly of the refuse collectors who carried out their duties in such a manner as to receive the approbation of the Health Committee by a special resolution of thanks. During the year the collectors were provided with Protective Clothing (Coat and Shoulder Cape) without the surrender of personal clothing coupons. On 1st August, two Motor Mechanics commenced the servicing of the Department’s vehicles. Previously this was executed by a local garage. 1 am convinced that this alteration has been to the benefit of the Department. Vehicles which were previously off duty for days are often in commission again in a matter of hours as immediate attention is given to minor defects, which may if not attended have produced major complications. The shortage of spare parts, and the difficulty of obtaining certain t}^pes of tyres led to serious delay which in normal times would never have occurred. Questions asked in Parliament regarding the supply of tyres did not bring any immediately tangible improvement in supply.