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197
The statistics contained in the successive annual reports of
the commissioners for baths and washhouses, show a constantly
increasing use to be made of the washhouses, and are
of a nature to encourage the hope that it may be found
practicable to provide, at no distant date, for the wants of the
poor in the central and southern districts of the parish.
PUBLIC SANITARY CONVENIENCES.
There are only 21 public urinals in the parish—a very
inadequate provision, which, however, is supplemented by
about 170 urinals at public-houses, to which the general public
have access. This latter accommodation is not of a satisfactory
sort, as a rule, but it is better than none, and was
improved as the result of proceedings taken by yonr Vestry
in 1888 and subsequently. There are four sets of public
water-closets for the male sex only, situated, respectively, at
the rear of the central public library, Kensington High-street;
at the west-end of Westbourne-grove, Notting-hill; in
Thurloe-place, opposite the Bell and Horns tavern; and
at Lancaster-road, Notting-hill, adjoining the public library.
Sanitary authorities have ample power in the matter, section
88 of the Metropolis Management Act, 1855, enabling them
"to provide and maintain urinals, water-closets, and like
conveniences for both sexes in situations where they deem
such accommodation to be required." Suitable sites exist;
none better, perhaps, or where provision of the kind is more
needed, than in Kensington High-street, opposite the parish
church. Here, an underground retiring place for both sexes
might be constructed without giving rise to nuisance in any
sense of the word. Increased powers were conferred by the
Public Health (London) Act, 1891, section 44 (2), which vests
the subsoil of roadways in the sanitary authority, who,
moreover, have power to compensate persons injured by the
erection of these conveniences near to their houses, &c.