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80
Exhumation and Re-interment of Bodies.
During the year the bodies of three persons buried at the Hampstead
Municipal Cemetery, Fortune Green Road, have been exhumed
and subsequently re-interred in the same Cemetery. In accordance
with the terms of the licences issued by the Home Secretary in respect
of these cases, the work of removal and re-interment was
carried out under the supervision of the Staff of the Public Health
Department.
Nuisance caused by Pigeons.
The London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1927, now
enables a Sanitary Authority to take certain steps with a view to
reducing the number of pigeons within its area. Section 52 of this
Act provides that, for the purpose of abating or mitigating any nuisance,
annoyance or damage caused by the congregation at any place
in the Borough of house-doves or pigeons having, or believed by the
Borough Council to have no owner, or of preventing or minimising
any such nuisance, annoyance or damage which might, in the opinion
of the Council, be so caused, the Council may seize and destroy or sell
any such house-dove or pigeon in excess of such number as the
Council may consider reasonable, and take such steps as they deem
necessary for such purpose. It is, however, necessary for the Council
to obtain consent to the measures adopted by them from the person
or corporation in whom the building or land upon which the birds
congregate is vested.
During the year posters were exhibited in the Borough appealing
to the citizens to co-operate in this matter by refraining from feeding
pigeons. There is no doubt that, under certain conditions and
when gathering together in large numbers, pigeons are a considerable
nuisance and cause damage to property.
The poster exhibited in the Borough is in the following terms:—
METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OF HAMPSTEAD.
Nuisance by Pigeons.
Considerable inconvenience is caused in many parts of the
Borough by pigeons.
Many complaints of damage to property and fouling of houses,
both inside and out, have been received.