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40
WATER SUPPLY TO NEW BUILDINGS.
During the year I inspected and gave certificates for the following premises:—
Bloomsbury Street and Great Rust-ell Street.—Ivanhoe Hotel.
Gloucester Street, No. 10.
Great St. Andrew Street, No. 11.
John's Mews, No. 25, and Little-James Street, No. 13.
Kingsway, Craven House.
Ormond Yard, No. 16.
Southampton Row, Tollard Royal Hotel.
WATER SUPPLY TO TENEMENT HOUSES.
In December, 1904, a letter was received from the London County Council
calling the attention of the Council to the decision of the Magistrate at the
Woolwich Police Court, on the 16th December, 1904, to the effect that the
supply of water from a tap in the yard is not a proper and sufficient supply of
water to tenement houses within the meaning of section 48 of the Public Health
(London) Act, 1891, and expressing the London County Council's hope that the
Borough Council will take all possible steps to secure the provision of a proper
and sufficient supply of water for the tenants of every floor of a tenement house.
After consideration of this by the Public Health Committee, I was instructed
to take steps for the service of notice wherever necessary with a view to
securing the provision of a proper and sufficient supply of water accordingly.
Many Intimation Notices (about 120) were therefore served during the year
1905. It was, however, afterwards decided to serve Statutory Notices and take
legal proceedings for tenement houses in which the only water supply was in the
basement. I also advised that legal proceedings should not be taken if an
additional water supply were provided about midway between the ground and
top floors. Fifteen such houses were provided with additional water supply. In
two cases legal proceedings had to be taken, and in each case the Magistrate
made an order for the work to be carried out.
During the year 1906, 32 more houses were provided with additional water
supply.
On account of the difficulties that have frequently been experienced in
securing a proper and sufficient water supply, the Public Health Committee
made a recommendation which was adopted by the Council, "that the London
County Council be urged to take the necessary steps to obtain an amendment of
the existing law with a view to securing an adequate and accessible supply of
water to floors in tenement houses."
BY LAWS AS TO HOUSES LET IN LODGINGS.
At the end of the year 690 houses were registered under these by-laws. Of
these, 361 are in St. Giles and Bloomsbury, and 329 are in the Holborn District.