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5. The above conditions, owing to the evolution of foul
smells, are injurious to the health of persons exposed to the
same, also the polluted state of the water prevents the use of
the river for recreation purposes, especially that of bathing (a
bathing pool was designed and partly constructed by the London
County Council on a branch of the Lea in Hackney, but owing
to the polluted character of the water the pool was not allowed
to be used).
6. The above facts influenced the Hackney local authority
to call a Conference of representatives from Limehouse, Ley ton,
Walthamstow, Poplar, Essex County Council, and Hackney—
districts interested to consider the subjects of the pollution of
the river As a result of the deliberations of the Conference it
was Resolved—" That this Conference is of opinion that a full
enquiry into the condition of the whole of the River Lea as to its
source of impurities should be undertaken by the Government
in continuation of the report of the Select Committee of
1886."
7. The Select Committee of the House of Commons above
referred to, which were appointed in 1886, to report on the
pollution of the River Lea were prematurely forced to conclude
their enquiries owing to the early dissolution of Parliament; but
in presenting the evidence taken to Parliament, they reported
inter alia "without desiring to prejudge the fuller consideration
of the question of the purification of the River Lea as a whole,
your Committee desire to point to the mode in which the sewage
which formerly polluted the River Thames in its passage through
London was dealt with by the Metropoliton Board of Works, as
affording a precedent which ought to be considered in connection
with the River Lea, and which, if followed, might be
expected to remedy the more flagrant evils complained of, at the
earliest practicable date."