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admitted are in flood time, and, if necessary, occasionally at high
tides, should it become desirable to introduce fresh water into the
pool, but as a rule the percolation of sub-soil water will be
sufficient to keep the pool well supplied and in comparatively pure
condition."
"I submit these facts to you before advising the Council to
proceed with the construction of the proposed shelter, as I wish it
to be made quite clear that your Vestry would not offer, on sanitary
grounds, any objection to the continuance of the bathing. Should
it think proper to do so, I probably should advise the Council to
remove the dams and to take no steps whatever with regard to
bathing in the river, leaving matters as they are now.''
This letter was considered by the Sanitary Committee of that
time who made a visit to the site of the bathing pool, and finally
instructed me to communicate with the Parks Committee in the
terms of the following letter:—
Town Hall, Hackney, N.E.,
13th May, 1896.
HACKNEY MARSH.
Dear Sir,
I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 22nd ultimo,
upon the subject of the bathing place in the River Lee adjoining the
Council's land, which was laid before the Sanitary Committee at
their meeting, held on Thursday last, and in reply, I am requested
to inform you that the Committee have inspected the bathing pool
and had a sample of the water analysed, and from the analysis,
copy of which is enclosed, it appears that the water is highly polluted;
and having fully considered these facts, together with the statement
in your first communication, that " the only times when Lee water
will be admitted are in flood times, and, if necessary, occasionally at
high tides," they are of opinion it would be dangerous for bathing
to take place in such water and are not prepared to give their
approval to the scheme.