[Report 1957] / Medical Officer of Health, Belper (Union) R.D.C.

  • Belper (England). Rural District Council.
Date:
1957
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1957] / Medical Officer of Health, Belper (Union) R.D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    18/28 (page 14)
    SCAVENGING House Refuse Removal During the year the re-organisation of the collection in the southern area was carried out, by the introduction of one additional workman and one vehicle. The parishes of Allestree, Quarndon, Darley Abbey and Duffield are now serviced by three teams, consisting of two three-men teams, and one four-men team, instead of the original two teams of five and four. When there has been no dislocation due to holidays or sickness a weekly collection has been maintained, but new premises are being occupied almost every week and the increased amount of collection will shortly necessitate an addition to the labour strength. The collection throughout the district, now entirely carried out by direct labour, is threatened from time to time by the workmen’s forced absenteeism due to holidays and sickness, and for this reason some casual labour has been retained for long periods. A seven-day collection was generally maintained except during more difficult periods, particularly when the teams were handicapped by severe weather conditions which usually occur when the collection is at its heaviest. The district is now divided into eight areas served by ten lorries, a Karrier Bantam being used as a supplementary vehicle for operation in the difficult parts of the northern area, and allowing one spare vehicle for use throughout the district when any vehicle is off the road for repairs. The permanent labour force remains at 1 general foreman and 29 other^^ttknen, because the collection in the Western Parishes has been maintained by two men following the transfer of part of their work in the re-organisation, whereas this team used to consist of three men. Refuse Tins The tips owned or rented by the Council are at Crich, Darley Abbey, Deriby, Horsley, Holbrook, Kirk Langley, Shipley and Smalley. The amount tipped on some of these has been limited because of an attempt to use to the fullest extent the free tipping space at Smalley, where several years tipping is available as a result of opencast v/orking, and the road leading to the face of this tip was improved during the year to facilitate tipping in all weather conditions. Controlled tipping continues on the tips at Darley Abbey and Crich, which necessitate the employment of one full-time attendant and one part-time attendant who also carries out the paper baling, grass mowing etc. The other tips are kept in a reasonably tidy condition by the drivers and collectors at the time of tipping. Salvage Collection During the financial year 152 tons, 11 cwts. of waste paper were collected and sold, realising £1,067. 17. 0. and during the same period scrap metal and rags sold realised £180. 17. 3. making a total of £1,248. 14. 3. The workmen received fifty per cent of the profit after the deduction of the year’s expenses, which included the provision of one new baling press. Night Soil Collection The emptying of pail closets was carried out in the same manner as in previous years, partly by direct labour and partly by contract. The same two Contractors emptied pail closets in the parishes of Kirk Langley and Mackworth, and parts of Horsley Woodhouse and Smalley. The remainder of the work was done by the full-time team of three men equipped with an Austin lorry with a fitted tank. The collection in Dethick, Lea and Holloway, is carried out during the hours of overtime in the evening, and the private Contractor for Kirk Langley and Mackworth collects in the late evening, but the remainder of the work is done during normal working hours. Cost of Scavenging The cost of the house refuse and nightsoil collection schemes for the year ended 31st March, 1958, totalled £24,409. 16. 0. the equivalent of a rate of ]/7.78d. in the pound or at an average cost of £2. 8. 9. per house,