|
January, 1915
THETFORD ROAD FLOODING – The
Brandon Rural District Authority had an undertaking from the Suffolk County
Council that they were to carry out a scheme for preventing the flooding of
Thetford Road. However nothing had yet happened. The surface water from
rainstorms was still accumulating and the occupants of several houses still
had to cross a miniature lake when entering or leaving their homes. One
resident had even cut a temporary channel in their garden path to prevent
the water from actually entering the house.
So
far the only official attempt to deal with the matter had been to borrow a
local “blood” cart, which was a vehicle used for removing blood from
slaughter-houses. By this means the water was drawn from the roadway and
discharged into the town pit a short distance away. Unfortunately, there
were many leaks and a large proportion of rainwater was spilled on the way
to the pit. The very bad weather from the previous two months had got the
backs up of local residents due to S.C.C. not providing an adequate system
of surface drainage, and in not promptly and effectually alleviating the
nuisance that occurred through the absence of such drainage.
May,
1915
BRANDON
RURAL COUNCIL (BRANDON PAROCHIAL COMMITTEE) – A letter was received from Brandon Parish Council pointing out that much
confusion had been caused in billeting troops at Brandon, owing to the
houses not being numbered, and suggested that the it was important for the
homes in Brandon to be numbered. It
was agreed that street names plates should be set in place and that the
occupiers in the town be requested to number their respective houses. Mr Mount was to be asked to make necessary
arrangements for carrying out the work.
INFECTIOUS
DISEASE- The Medical Officer of Health reported
that since the last meeting he had received notification of four cases of
scarlet fever at Brandon. He
drew attention to the possibility of spotted fever occurring in the
district, pointing out that it was a very fatal disease, and asking that he
should be authorised to call in Dr Claridge, a specialist at Norwich, in any
suspected cases. The Clerk
said the disease was very difficult to diagnose, and every one who had been
near a patient had to be examined and kept under supervision.
The Council’s Medical Officer said it was impossible for him to
make the necessary bacteriological examination that must be done by a
specialist. There were two
specialists in the district, Dr Claridge, of Norwich, who had been appointed
at Norwich by the Government as Inspector of the Troops, and the other
doctor at Cambridge. When the matter
came before the Thetford Rural Council it was thought Dr Claridge’s
travelling fee of 1s a mile was too much.
The Clerk had communicated with Dr Cowan who said that under no
circumstances would the Inspector agree to reduce the fee.
After hearing further explanation on this point the Council resolved
to authorise the Medical Officer to call in Dr Claridge if the need arose.
THE
HEALTH OF THE DISTRICT – The Medical Officer of Health
(Dr G Cowan) submitted his annual report for the year 1914, which read as
follows:
“Your district covered an area of 37,759 acres, with a
population of 5,863. With
the exception of Brandon, which has a population of about 2,000, the
district consists of scattered villages and isolated cottages, and
some of it is very sparsely populated.
The main employment of the inhabitants is agriculture. A large number of troops have been billeting in the
district, in the cottages and houses, since the outbreak of war.
In most cases the military authorities communicated with me
before billeting the troops. The township of Brandon has an excellent water supply.
The rest of the district is supplied by wells, many of which
are surface wells, and hence liable to pollution.
A good deal has been done during the year to improve the worst
of these wells by raising the well head, rendering inside with cement,
and puddling outside with clay. There is no system of sewerage or drainage throughout the
district the privy system being universal, except in Brandon.
In Brandon there are a few houses with cesspools, and a good
many with pail closets. There is no system of scavenging throughout the district.
I would again draw your attention to the fact that Brandon has
not yet adopted any system of scavenging, although your attention has
been drawn to this want for several years.
Each occupier is responsible for the removal and disposal of
the house refuse and night soil, which is placed on the gardens or
other land. 1,050
inspections were made by your Sanitary Inspector, and 4 statutory
notices were served. 3 of
the nuisances being abated, 530 were discovered, of which 528 informal
notices were served, verbal instructions proving sufficient in the
other cases. The
nuisances referred to consisted chiefly of accumulations of household
refuse, privy vaults, and minor dilapidations.
One offensive trade is carried on, namely a Knacker’s
premises, which is frequently inspected.
There are no common lodging houses in the district.
The sanitary condition and water supply of the Elementary
Schools have now been provided with public water supply.
Owing to the poor quality of the grazing, the standard of the
milk is not high, and the supply is inadequate, especially in some
parts, when it is very difficult to produce milk.
The dairies and cow sheds are regularly inspected, and are well
kept. There are four
slaughter houses, these are in good condition and kept clean.
No carcasses or parts of carcasses were condemned for
tuberculosis. The housing
accommodation for the working classes is fairly good for a rural
district. The houses are
for the most part clean and tidy; though there is still a tendency for
the occupiers to allow accumulations of house refuse hear their
houses. These
accumulations are certainly less frequent than in former years,
largely owing to the exertions of your Sanitary Inspector.
The working class population is almost stationary, and only one
new cottage has been built during the year.
There are no building bylaws in the district.
Under the Factory and Workshop Act, 81 inspections were made,
and 13 nuisances detected and remedied.
Under the Housing and Towns Planning Act, 208 houses were
inspected. None of the
houses were closed as unfit for human habitation, 16 houses were put
in good repair, without making closing orders.
The chief defects were insufficient light and ventilation, want
of paving and dampness.”
|
The Medical Officer then stated:
“There were 13 cases of diphtheria at Brandon during
this year. The schools
were visited and swabs taken from the suspicious throats, but in all
cases the report was negative. In
one instance the infection was brought to Brandon by a soldier
billeted in one of the houses. During
the year 127 births were registered in the district, which, with one
transferable birth, gave a birth rate of 21.8.
This is slightly below that of the last two years.
68 deaths were registered, giving a death rate of 11.6.
To these have to be added 15 deaths of residents outside the
district, which raises the death rate to 13.9, the highest for six
years. The death rate of
children under one year was 94.5 per 1,000 net births, the lowest rate
(except the year 1912, when it was 79.3) since 1909.
5 deaths were due to phthsis, 4 to influenza, 7 to cancer, and 1 each
to whooping cough and diphtheria.
27 cases of infectious disease were notified during the year,
namely diphtheria 13 cases, scarlet fever 8 cases, pulmonary
tuberculosis 5 cases, and erysipelas 1 case.
In conclusion I wish to again record my high appreciation of
the work of your Sanitary Inspector, Mr S.J. Miller, and of the
Assistant Sanitary Inspector, Mr L.G. Howell.
I am glad to report that since the close of the year Mr Miller
has recovered sufficiently to resume his duties.”
|
The report was approved.
June, 1915
MEASLES AND MUMPS NOTIFIABLE – Inspectors of the Local Government
Board explained that in consequence of military arrangements affecting the
district, it was advisable that measles, German measles and mumps should be
made notifiable diseases in order that troops should not be infected.
It was pointed out that if cases of disease were not isolated then it
might result in a large number of troops being put out of action.
The Council resolved that the Infectious Disease (Notification) Act,
1889, should apply in this district to cases of measles, German measles
(Rubella), and mumps during period troops were encamped or billeted within
the district, subject to Local Government Board issuing and order confining
the notification of such diseases to the first case arising in a household
from a certain period from the date of such notification.
August, 1915
BRANDON RURAL COUNCIL
– The Clerk said he had received a further letter from the military
authorities offering to pay £1 per week for the use of the Small Pox
Hospital. He understood the
local authorities were the laughing stock of the district for asking such an
enormous amount as £3 for a tin shed like that.
The Chairman said if it was considered a tin shed it cost a lot of money.
The Clerk – “Oh yes, but they cannot help that. £52 a year is considered a very good rent for it.”
Col. Mackenzie – “Instead of £150.
It does seem rather stiff. I
don’t think I should like to pay it.”
Mr Johnstone – “And they will leave it as it is when they get it?”
The Clerk said that was so. It was also understood that the building should
be vacated at 24 hours notice on the occurrence of Small Pox in the
Council’s area.He had been
in communication with the medical officer, who said if it was stipulated the
military were to get out at 24 hours’ notice he saw no difficulty in the
way of the hospital being let to them.
Col. Mackenzie – How much did the building cost to build?”
The Clerk “I do not know. A
thousand pounds at least. I am
sorry to say we cannot look at what the building cost.”
The Chairman – Oh no. I think
the offer is very reasonable, and beg to move that we agree to accept £1 a
week.”
This was carried.
TELEGRAPHIC
EXTENSION – An application was received from the Post Office authorities
to make a small extension of the telegraphic system at Brandon.
The Clerk explained that as they wished to do the work at once, and a
Board meeting could not be held in time, the matter was referred to the
Chairman, who granted permission.
PETROLEUM LICENCE –The Council granted an application
from Mr T.H. Teed, of Brandon, for a petroleum licence.
September, 1915
BRANDON RURAL COUNCIL –
The monthly meeting of the Brandon Rural District Council was held at
Thetford on Friday. Mr A.W.
Rought Rought presided, and there were also present:
The Rev. C Green, Messr H.W. Winter, A.J. Cackett, J Balaam, J
Pickering, W Durrant, H Plummer and W.R. Plummer, with the Clerk (Mr J
Houchen).
INSPECTION
OF BILLETS– The Sanitary Inspector (Mr Miler) reported that he had
made 239 inspections and re-inspections of billets in Brandon.
In reply to the Chairman, Mr Miller said the billets were now
satisfactory.
NATIONAL
REGISTRATION– The Clerk reported that the work of registering persons
under the National Registration Act was now practically complete as far as
this Council was concerned, but the Register was to be kept open to the 30th
September.
THE
SMALL POX HIOSPITAL– A letter was received from the Military Authorities
offering £1 per week for the use of the small pox hospital at Thetford on
the understanding that it should be evacuated at 24 hours notice on the
occurrence of a case of small pox in the area.
It was agreed that the offer should be accepted.
October,
1915
THE PARISH CHURCH – There was difficulty in
darkening the windows of the Parish Church to comply with the new lighting
regulations. There were
eighteen windows in the Church and to cover these with curtains or blinds
would entail considerable expense. After
the Sunday morning service a consultation was held when the Rector (the Rev
J.L. Wyatt), Dr W.O. trotter (churchwarden), and the sidesmen were present.
After due consideration, it was agreed that no blinds be provided,
and that the services be at 3 o’clock in the afternoon instead of 6.30.
THE SCHOOL CLOCK – The Public Clock in the
turret of the Council Schools has undergone a thorough cleaning.
The work has been entrusted to Mr W.J. Murrell, Brandon.
The face now presents a bright and fresh appearance, is outlined in
gold leaf, also the figures on the dial.
The bell has been re-hung. In
order to conform to the Lighting Regulations the face will not be
illuminated.
BRANDON PARISH COUNCIL
– It was reported that a lamp post had been broken by the E.A.R.A. (Suffolks)
on 28th September. The
Clerk said he found the lamp-post was broken off at the base and was
rendered useless. The Adjutant
had placed an order with Mr Woodrow to make the damage good, and a new
lamp-post had been supplied. Attention
was drawn to the posts in the Old Avenue, which in the absence of street
lighting, was a danger to the public. Councillor,
Mr Parrott said he was opposed to the posts being put up in the first
instance. The Clerk said they
were now very dangerous. It was
agreed to request the District Council to have them removed.
November,
1915
BRANDON
RURAL COUNCIL – The Deputy Clerk (Mr W.J. Haywood) read a letter from
Mr FJ Mount reporting that 26 street name-plates had been painted and fixed,
and 554 doors numbered, and that with the exception of two cases only all
the houses in the town of Brandon were now numbered or named.
It was resolved that all outlying houses in the parish of Brandon be
numbered. It
was further agreed that Mr F.J. Mount be paid £2 2s, for his services in
connection with the naming and numbering.
The Committee decided to insure the Water Works cottage and premises against
damage by aircraft.
A letter was received from the Local Government Board requesting Local
Authorities to do everything in their power to assist the work of the local
authorities, and to appoint a tribunal of five members to hear local
appeals.
The Council decided that the local tribunal should consist of the Chairman
and Vice-Chairman, Messrs Durrant, Johnstone and Plummer.
December,
1915
BRANDON RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL
-*-
COMPULSORY NOTIFICATION OF MEASLES AND GERMAN MEASLES
-*-
Notice is Hereby Given that the Local Government Board
have issued an Order making certain Regulations to the following:-
Every parent or Guardian, or other person, as soon as
he becomes aware of, or has reasonable grounds, for supposing that any
person in his charge is suffering from Measles or German Measles
shall, unless the case has already been notified by a Medical
Practitioner, forthwith notify the case to the Medical Officer of
Health for the District, stating the name and age of the patient, and
his address.
The above notification must be enclosed in a
sealed envelope addressed to Dr. G. Gowen, Medical Officer of Health,
Cleveden, Thetford, and may be transmitted by being delivered to him
at such address, or sent by prepaid letter post.
The Order requires the Council to enforce the
Regulations.
Persons wilfully neglecting or refusing to obey or
carry out or obstructing the execution of the Regulations are liable
to heavy penalties.
JOHN HOUCHEN
Clerk
Thetford
13th December 1915
|
|
