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150
ENCROACHMENT UPON OPEN SPACES ABOUT
BUILDINGS.
The Vestry of St. Pancras having invited the observations
of the Sanitary Authorities with reference to a report by their
Medical Officer of Health, calling attention to the encroachment
upon open spaces about buildings, which is sanctioned
under recent changes in the building laws, the matter was
referred to the Sanitary Committee, which, after approval of
my report thereon, expressing agreement with the views set
out in the report of the St. Pancras Medical Officer, remitted
it to the Law and Parliamentary Committee for an expression
of their views as to the state of the law. This Committee
endorsed the views of the Sanitary Committee, to the effect
" that the provisions of the London Building Act, 1894, are
defective," and they recommended that a communication be
addressed to the County Council, " in favour of amending
legislation being promoted to ensure the provision of adequate
open space at the rear of all buildings." This course was
adopted, and the St. Pancras Vestry were apprised of the
action taken.
REFUSE MATTER.
The prevention of nuisance in connection with the storage,
the collection, and the conveyance through streets of offensive
substances coming under the general description "Refuse,"
which was formerly a matter of no little difficulty, has been
facilitated by the County Council's bye-laws made in 1893,
under the provisions of section 16 of the Public Health
(London) Act, 1891. But in order to prevent nuisance in the
conveyance of offensive matter through the streets, constant
supervision is necessary, and as the police are always on duty,
and have therefore opportunities of observing offences against
the bye-laws, it appeared to the Public Health Committee of
the Council that it would be useful if the police were instructed
to take note of any such offences, and to give notice thereof to