INSANITARY STABLES?

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 89, 10 December 1912, Page 3

INSANITARY STABLES?

COUNCILLORS DON’T THINK SO

For some months an interesting controversy has been raging with regard to the Club Hotel stables, the condemnation of which by the Health authorities the Borough Council has practically refused to sanction. At the Council’s meeting last night Mr. Herbert Chesson, District Health Officer, wrote: “I am surprised that your Council should have asked me to reconsider my condemnation of these stables. The condition of the stables is so bad generally, and is so obviously an insanitary one and dangerous to public health, that nothing short of practical reconstruction would meet the case. I would like to be acquainted with the reason why the Council has not taken the action recommended, and trust it will now take steps to enforce my condemnation.” The Mayor, being an interested party, requested leave to withdraw before the letter was read, and Councillor King took the chair. The Chairman stated that the Council had passed a resolution that they did not consider it necessary that the stables should be condemned. Another resolution was therefore passed that the District Health Officer be asked to reconsider his decision. Now,

the Health Officer wished to “know the reason why.” Their reason, of course, was that a majority of the Councillors were of the opinion that

he state of the stables did not war-

rant their being pulled down. The Councillor continued that the stables were in an excellent state of cleanli-

ness, and there were plenty of other places in the town in a far worse condition. They were just as sanitary as any other local stables.

Councillor Healy agreed. In his opinion it was a far-stretched idea that tliere was any danger to health. Concrete channelling and repairs to the boarding* were all that were required to be done, and £lO spent on them would meet the requirements. To pull down the buildings would almost be “a public scandal.” ' * Councillor Thompson remarked that tliere were dozens of places, besides these stables, that wanted cleaning up. 1 Councillor Boon moved that the idea bo 1 rimveyed to the Inspector that in the opinion of the Council only certain Repairs were necessary. '' Tt was mentioned that the motion had been laid before the Licensing Cbin'mittee and Mr. Kenrick, S.M., had intimated that the question of renewing the license might come into the matter at the next annual meeting, if the requirements of the Inspector were,not carried out. ’ ‘ A Councillor: That will take it oh our shoulders. (Laughter.) Tile motion was carried.