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Problems Created by Blackpool's Huge Floating Population

13th March 1936, Page 91
13th March 1936
Page 91
Page 92
Page 93
Page 91, 13th March 1936 — Problems Created by Blackpool's Huge Floating Population
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Keywords : Karrier, Rootes, Vulcan, Blackpool

IF you bear in mind the fact that the normal population of Blackpool, the queen of the northern watering places, is about 120.000, which expands from Whitstintide, in successive waves, to a maximum of about 500,000. in the height of the summer season, you will appreciate how great are the demands made upon the department of publie cleansing.

Go to Blackpool at any time of the year. arid it will be found that the town, withits six or seven miles of promenade, is a credit, from the standpoint of cleaaliness, to the department, of which Mr.. R; Entwistle is the chief. Parenthetically, he is the _third director of public cleansing for the county borough, whom the writer has had the pleasure of interviewing.

Great developments have taken place in the resources, equipment and organization of the department since the days, 12 or more years ago, when Mr. James Bee, who was then at the head, had his office in the vicinity of the Rigby Road depot. Now, the director of public cleansing has a town office within a few minutes' walk of the town hall.

Twenty-six mechanically propelled vehicles constitute the fleet, their duties comprising refuse collection, gully-emptying, sewer flushing, street sweeping and collecting, and a small proportion of general work. Nine of these units are Electricars, equipped with D.P. batteries of 288-384 amp.

hour capacity. They are engaged exclusively on the collection and disposal of house and shop refuse.

Mr. Entwistle was asked whether it was likely that the department, at some future date, would have a more or less standardized fleet, employing either battery-driven or petrol-engined machines.

" That is improbable," he replied, 'for the reason that in Blackpool we have solved the refuse-disposal problem by the adoption of mechanical means,

which involves the separation and incineration of refuse. The heat generated is utilized for the production of electricity, which, in turn, provides the motive power for the operation of the refuse-disposal works at Bispharn, which lies at the northern extremity of the town. Hence, electricity becomes a by-product of the dustbins and part of it is used to charge the batteries of our vehicles."

The Electricars, the carrying capacity of which ranges from 30 cwt. to 3 tons, have different types of body, but nearly all are built for end loading. Amongst the petrol machines used for house and shop refuse collection are two Karrier 2-tonner3, a Vulcan 30-cwt. vehicle, four Vulcan 3-tonners, two Bedford 23-tonners and two Dennis 30-cwt. machines (of which the department is very proud) with streamlined bodies.

The other equipment comprises two Dennis gully-emptiers, two Karrier sweepers, a Lathy sweeper and a Lister Auto-Truck used for the emptying of gullies in narrow passages.

Whilst it is the aim of all cleansing authorities to make their most obtrusive service—refuse collection—as unostentatious as possible, Blackpool appears to favour vehicles brightly painted arid attractive in general appearance. All of them are finished in cream accentuated by brilliant red lettering and minor decorative features in a similar hue.

There are advantages, as well as disadvantages, in the adoption of a light ground colour, but Mr. Entwistle considers that the balance is in favour of the former. His reason for this belief is that it is always obvious when the bodywork is dirty, and the staff must, therefore, pay regular attention the figure is about 2,350 tons in each case. In August, the weight of household refuse collected is in the region of 3,400 tons. This wide variation in yield—and the extremes have been mentioned—is brought about by the influx of visitors during the holiday season.

It is obvious that sufficient staff and plant must always be at hand when the need is greatest, and elasticity must

be allowed in the planning of the general arrangements, so that the work of the department can be altered to suit quickly changing conditions. How does Blackpool effect this adjustment?

During the relatively quiet months of the year, the staff of the public cleansing department numbers 200 persons, whilst in August the number is 262. Not only is the quantity and weight of

places of public resort, which, in the winter, are visited only once or twice a week. Standby vehicles are always in readiness for the summer-time offensive.

The municipal area is mapped out into eight collecting districts, and it is usual for each of these to be worked by two vehicles, operated as a pair. In winter there are six men to the two vehicles; in summer, nine men to the two outfits, with the addition, when necessary, of what is termed a "wobbly gang," which renders assistance in the loading of one motor and then the other, according to exigencies.

A longer day is worked in the summer,duties being commenced at 6 a.m., compared with 7.30 a.m, in the winter. It is interesting to note that during the month of the Blackpool Illuminations, last year, there was an increase of 300 tons in the quantity of household refuse over that collected in the previous month of September.

An analysis reveals that during the past municipal year, the electrics carried 11,338 loads, representing 17,537 tons, the average per load being 1 ton 11 cwt., whilst the petrol vehicles transported 10,029 loads (18,794 tons), representing an average of 1 ton 17 cwt.. per load. A large petrol vehicle hauls a minimum of four complete loads per day, and, in some cases, as many as six, whilst the Electricars, as a rule, make four to five round • journeys per day, involving a daily mileage of between 25 and 30.

When the load factor is so variable, owing to seasonal conditions, it is -extremely difficult to keep a close check on expenditure to keep it within estimates. Mr. Entwistle, makes use, therefore, of a record form designated " Weekly Wage Report Sheet," a specimen of which is reproduced. whether the last-named is over or under departmental estimates.

In a separate set of columns are given the progressive totals to date. Finally, there is stated the number of employees during the current week, compared with the corresponding week of last year.

Last year, Harrier sweeping and collecting machines dealt with 451 loads, equivalent to 676 tons, but the main work of street sweeping is done manually; the street refuse being deposited into orderly trucks. Night work on street cleansing is a vital necessity to the seaside town, and mechanical sweepers and washers are utilized for this work.

The night cleansing and washing are followed by the orderly, who is provided with a two-wheel truck containing two refuse bins, which are emptied by a patrolling mechanical vehicle. The work of removing the litter by hand during the ordinary working day cannot cease at tea-time, but is continued with a reduced staff until the bustling crowds have vanished.

Motor lorries, horsed-carts and orderly trucks also clear the promenades of blown sand and seaweed. Amounts approaching 1,000 tons of blown sand and seaweed have been collected and removed in a year.

The brushes used on the two Harrier sweeping machines are made of a mixture of two parts of African bass and one part of cane. Their average life is 60 hours, by the end of which time the filling is worn down to 2/ ins. from an original length out of the stock of 9 ins, in one case and 8/ ins, in the other.

in the Lailly machine, Rota bass, 10/ ins., out of stock, is used. Thus, 1 in. of fibre suffices for about 10 hours, or nearly 50 miles of road under reasonably good operating conditions. The rate of wear of brushes is increased by the effect of the band' present on those thoroughfares within reach of the shore. Heavy wear is also caused in Wet weather.

As regards gully-emptying last year. two big Dennis machines emptied 71,000 gullies at a cost of 3.3d. per gully cleansed. The Lister Auto-Thick. which is also employed on gully-emptying, is believed to be the only vehicle of its kind in the north of England. It has. a 'metal body, carrying a 200gallon tank, and works in passages between rows of houses. This handy little unit cleans out about 130 gullies per day at a cost of 3.1d. per gully (including repayment chorus).

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