[Report 1925] / Medical Officer of Health, Belper U.D.C.

  • Belper (England). Urban District Council.
Date:
1925
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1925] / Medical Officer of Health, Belper U.D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    28/36 (page 26)
    I was liDjxiful lit the cominencem-nt of the year that tlie Hop- ping Hill, East Gild West Terraces, would have lieeii done, bub unfortunately they are not. If this work had been done we should have seen a larger numher of conversions. The paving of yards and entries have been proceeded with, which not only improves the appearance of the ])rnperty concerned, and its marketable value, but has a beneficid effect upon the health of the inhabitants of the houses where such improvements have taken place. The concrete paving is certainly the most expensive at the outset, but is far the cheapest in the long run. One cannot express too strongly the needs of paving the yards and entiie.s, as the pools of stagnant water lying near the dwelling-houses has a deleterious effect upon the health of the people. Old windows to dwelling-houses that would not open have been re-placed by modern ones. In my opinion, as I have often stated before, the double hung .sash window is far the best for efficient ventilation, and are the cheapest in the long run, from the experi- ence that I have had. Casement windows when left open are blown about by the wind and come unfastened, and eventually there comes a strong gust, of wind and wrenclies the window off the hinges, and falls to the ground and is broken. In some instances, I am pleased to report, the owners have taken it upon themselves to do away with the idd ami obsolete windows and re-placed them with sash windows. 1 would suggest at this point that when plans come before the Building C'linmittee shewing casement windows to the dwelling- houses, a recommendation should be sent to the prospective builder asking him to make the ujaper poition so as it could he opened, as w’ell as the lower, in order to allow the vitiated air to escape. HOUSING. There are several houses that one would like to see vacated, owing to the defective and ilila|)idated condition that they are in. I refer to the houses at liargate. Mill Lane, and the Fleet, and are all occupied, and nothing short of a Demolition Oreler shouhl he asked for when the time comes to deal with the above property. Overcrowding exists slightly, but as there are no houses to let the question of the aliatement of this nuisance has to go by the board, but I am hoping that some day we shall l)e able to deal with them. Houses have lieen repaired and brought up to modern requirements in several instances with and without notices on the owner. Defective cave and down spouting ha\e received attention. I am at a loss to understand why owners of [iropeity (which I am ])leased to stite are few in number) neglect this part of the house, although it may appear only a minor matter, but if allowed to go