| Description | Local Boards of Health were created under the Public Health Act 1848, were merged with municipal boroughs in 1873 and superceded by urban sanitary districts in 1894. They were formed as a response to major cholera outbreaks in the 1840s and the recent discovery of water-borne transmission of disease, in an attempt to improve the sanitary conditions of towns like Worcester.
As Worcester's local board district was within the borough's limits, all the members were selected by the corporation. Mayors were ex officio board members. The local board of health could appoint several employees including a surveyor, an inspector of nuisances, a clerk, a treasurer and an officer of health (who had to be a qualified doctor). Their remit was extensive: water supply, sewerage, drainage, slaughterhouse regulation, provision of pleasure grounds, provision of public toilets, provision of mortuaries, lodging house licensing, and the cleaning and paving of streets.
In 1858, their jurisdiction increased to include removal of nuisances (which included everything from smells from tripe-boiling, excessive noise, and overflowing drains), repair or removal of unsafe buildings, fire prevention, and also assumed responsibility for street lamps. Anything that may affect the health of the city's residents came under their jurisdiction.
Under the Public Health Act 1875, Worcester was designated an urban sanitary district, which conferred more responsibility, although the title of the board did not change. The legislation was more stringent that previous acts with regards to building standards and provision of drainage, water supply and proper street paving. However, changes occurred only slowly due to the difficulties in finding money to pay for all the improvements demanded. Local boards and districts were abolished in 1894 and became urban districts.
The committee was responsible for monitoring the city's slaughterhouses, premises where food was sold or prepared, storage of petroleum and explosives, burial grounds, lodging houses, and anything else that affected the health of the inhabitants, and had the power to enforce adherence to public health law and the removal of nuisances. Some matters concerning sewerage and water supply were passed to the Water and Sewerage Committee. |