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There have also been serious complaints in reference to the
flooding of certain properties upon the low-lying land on the north
side of the Woolwich Road, caused by the inability of the London
County Council's main sewer through this district in times of
heavy rain to adequately deal with the drainage of these properties.
There is no doubt whatever but that this constitutes a very
serious nuisance, and materially affects the health of the people
occupying the houses in question.
I have inspected many of these properties, and have found
that during the period of several days, and in fact, a week or more
after the cessation of this flooding, the space between the surface
of the ground and the floor boards of the kitchen and living room
of these houses, is filled with very offensive liquid, which remains
there until it is able to soak away into the ground, when, of course,
it leaves behind, débris of a very objectionable character.
Unfortunately, the position is a very complicated one, and
until the London County Council complete the new main sewer, at
which I understand they are at work at the present time, nothing
of a very satisfactory character can be done to deal with this
matter.
The other alternative would appear to be obtaining orders
for the closure of a large number of these houses, but in view of
the probable completion of this main sewer by the County Council
within a reasonable period, it has seemed to me to be advisable
to carry out such temporary measures as are possible, and thereby
obviate what would appear to be harsh and arbitrary action in
closing the houses.