View report page

104
2. With regard to the London County Council sewers, the Vestry may, upon a flagrant
case of nuisance being proved, through the Attorney-General proceed against the London
County Council by information, or in the alternative apply for a mandamus to compel the
Council to comply with Section 135 above referred to.
"It has been suggested that a Council sewer (looking to the width of the definition
clause) may come within the term 'premises' in Section 2 of the Act of 1891; but, without
giving a contrary opinion, we consider that a recent decision leaves it in considerable doubt
whether the nuisance section in this Act alters, or adds anything to, the previous law as to
sewers."
"Before taking action against the Council, the Works Committee would probably
recommend that a further communication be addressed to the Council pointing out the
gravity of the nuisance, and the obligation the Vestry feel themselves under to protect
residents by any means which they may be advised are available.
"All which is submitted."
The Works and Sanitary Committee, on consideration of the report, recommended the adoption
of the Standing Order cited above, and expressed the opinion that it was "most desirable
.... that action should be taken to secure a more efficient and less offensive mode of
ventilating the sewers of the Metropolis" than by open street gratings.
As regards street gullies, a part of the Standing Order was—
"That all new gullies to be constructed in the (Borough) be pan gullies with syphon
trapped outlets."
At the date of the Committee's report there were upwards of 6,000 untrapped gullies in the
parish, liable to emit offensive smells, besides a very large number of ventilating openings at
street level.
The subject is deserving of the consideration of the Council, little, relatively, having been
done by way of giving effect to the excellent recommendations contained in the report of the
Works Committee, or to comply with the requirements of the law as set out in the report of the
Law and Parliamentary Committee, of the late Vestry.
Combined Drainage.—A letter on this subject was received, in February, from the London
Borough Officers' Association, intimating that they had called the attention of the Local
ment Board to the present unsatisfactory state of the law in connection with combined drainage,
and to the desirability of securing, during the ensuing Session, a parliamentary remedy for the
serious difficulties met with by Local Sanitary Authorities; and suggesting that the Council should
also communicate with the Local Government Board soliciting their assistance in the direction
indicated. I reported on the matter as follows:—
"I concur with the recommendation of the London Borough Officers' Association with respect to
this matter, to which reference has been made in many of my reports. The Council was represented at a
deputation of Sanitary Authorities to the Main Drainage Committee of the London County Council, in
1894; as a result of which the County Council introduced a Bill {'Metropolitan Sewers and Drains') in
the Session of 1896, which failed to pass. The County Council have since expressed their intention
not to introduce any similar measure, it being now within the province of the Borough Councils to deal
directly with the matter by promoting legislation with reference thereto.'"
The question was referred to the drainage Sub-Committee for consideration; but ultimately,
for reasons set out in their report, no action was taken in the matter by the Public Health
Committee.
SANITARY CONVENIENCES.
There are only 18 public urinals in the borough—an inadequate provision; supplemented,
however, by about 170 external urinals at public-houses. This latter accommodation is not of a
satisfactory sort, as a rule, but it is better than none: it was improved, moreover, as the result
of proceedings taken by the late Vestry in 1888, and subsequently. There are two sets of public
water closets, for the male sex only, situated, respectively, at the rear of the central public library,
Kensington High Street; and at Lancaster Road, adjoining the public library; and three for both
sexes; viz: at Brompton Road by the Oratory; at the west end of Westbourne Grove, and at Talbot
Road. Sanitary authorities have power (under Section 88 of the Metropolis Management Act,
1855), "to provide and maintain urinals, water closets, and like conveniences, for both sexes, in
situations where they deem such accommodation to be required." Increased powers were conferred
by the Public Health (London) Act, 1891; Section 44 (2) of 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, etc.