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Under Section 17, every person who shall offend against these Bye-laws renders
himself liable to a penalty of £5 for every such offence, and in the case of a continuing
offence, to a further penalty of 40s. for each day after written notice of this offence
from the Corporation.
Any infringement of such Bye-law is a serious matter, and may lead to
considerable trouble and expense to the owner of the property, inasmuch as it may
necessitate the condemnation of a system installed in contravention of the Corporation
requirements.
One instance of neglect in this respect has occurred during the year under review,
and the following is a resume of the facts:—
70, Vine Street.
In the course of routine inspection it was ascertained that two water-closets had
been constructed in the cellars of these premises. The work was not carried out in
accordance with the terms of the Corporation's Bve-laws, and after careful
consideration of all the circumstances, it was determined that the installation must be
abolished. This was accordingly effected.
DRAINAGE PLANS.—In the course of the year 277 plans were submitted with
regard to proposed reconstruction of water-closets or drains in the City.
Of these, 252 were approved, 16 revised and approved, and nine not approved.
STREET GULLIES.—The gradual substitution of properly trapped gullies for
those formerly existing has greatly reduced the number of complaints received of
offensive smells arising from those appliances, especially in warm weather. In some
cases this nuisance was doubtless due to want of flushing, but in the majority faulty
construction was the cause of the trouble.
The City Engineer has given special attention to this matter for several years
past, and his action in replacing the old pattern gullies with those of a more up-to-date
design will, I hope, eventually lead to a complete abatement of the evil.
OVERCROWDING.—Overcrowding is a nuisance to be dealt with summarily
under Section 2, Sub-section 1 (e), of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, and
during the year three cases were reported by your officers. On the service of the
statutory notice of abatement the overcrowding was discontinued in each instance.
SANITARY DEFECTS AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE.—In every case of
notification of infectious disease, the premises involved were inspected with regard
to the drainage system, water supply, ventilation, &c.; and of the 106 cases so
investigated in 1920, it was found necessary to reconstruct the sanitary system in
two instances, and to make amendments to soil and waste pipes, water-closets, &c.,
in 39 others.
HOUSE, TRADE AND OTHER REFUSE REMOVAL.—The City Engineer
informs me that the refuse removed from the City in 1920 consisted of 19,267
cartloads of street sweepings and slops, and 41,969 loads of house and trade refuse,
a total of 61,236 loads. The total for the year 1919 was 50,645. The use of the
Destructor was discontinued in September, 1905, since which date all refuse has been
removed by barge from Lett's Wharf to the Corporation land on Hornchurch Marshes,
where it is dealt with. The horse manure collected from the street orderly bins is
not included in the above, but is dealt with by a contractor, who sells it to market
gardeners and others.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.—During the year 574 notices have been served by
the District Inspectors at the order of the Sanitary Committee, and in one case only,
70, Vine Street, was it found necessary, in consequence of non-compliance therewith,
to refer the matters to the City Solicitor with a view to such steps being taken as he
deemed necessary. This case is referred to above.
SUMMER FLUSHING OF COURTS.—There are 279 courts and narrow passages
throughout the City which were regularly flushed during the Summer months under
the direction of the City Engineer, who informs me that in this service and the flushing
of the main streets, no less than 40,875,876 gallons of water were used. Of these
courts and alleys, 20 were flushed six times a week, 10 five times a week, 2 four times
a week, 27 three times a week, 126 twice a week, and 94 once a week.