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The number of books from the Kensington Public Libraries destroyed during the year by the
officers of the Public Health Department was 55 ; the number of private library books destroyed
was 12 ; and the number disinfected by formalin and returned to the householders was 13.
VERMINOUS ROOMS CLEANSED BY LANDLORDS.
Seven hundred and fifty-eight verminous rooms were cleansed during the year in response to
notices served under the powers conferred by the London County Council (General Powers)
Acts, 1904 and 1922. This number is in addition to the 203 verminous rooms disinfected by the
Council's officers.
DUST REMOVAL.
House refuse is collected at least once a week in all areas in the Borough but more frequent
collections are undertaken in certain special areas.
The refuse is either disposed of by cremation in the Council's destructor at Wood Lane or
removed by barge from the wharves in Kensal Road and Lots Road. Trade refuse is removed by
the Council on payment of a fee in accordance with the provisions of Section 33 of the Public
Health (London) Act, 1891. Fish offal and other offensive trade products, which could be removed
on application as trade refuse, are for the most part removed and sold by the persons to whom this
class of refuse belongs.
In compliance with notices served by the Sanitary Inspectors, 787 new movable ash-bins of
galvanised iron have been provided during the year, and 103 fixed ash-pits of brick have been
abolished under the powers conferred by Section 23 of the London County Council (General
Powers) Act, 1904.
REFUSE REMOVAL FROM MEWS.
The common dustbins installed by the Council in 1921, in 21 mewsways in North Kensington
at the expense of the owners, have continued to prove a satisfactory arrangement for storing
house refuse in these particular mews in which there is a number of dwellings, stables and
costermongers' stores.
There is, however, some difficulty experienced in dealing with refuse in these so-called
" mixed " mewsways, because, although the house refuse is provided for in separate bins, it is still
a common practice to place trade refuse, especially decomposed fruit and vegetables, into the
manure pits and crates, with the result that those persons who have contracted to remove the
manure object to removing a mixture of manure and trade refuse.
Many of those who dump objectionable trade refuse in the pits and crates are strangers or
unknown persons who visit the mewsways at night time for the purpose. Not uncommonly the
pits and crates rapidly become full and overflowing as a result of this practice, and the mewsways
become littered with refuse.
The problem of securing hygienic conditions in these " mixed " mewsways received the close
attention of the Public Health Committee and, following a consultation with the then Chairman of
the Works Committee, they directed that the officers in the Public Health Department should
make a concentrated effort during the summer and autumn months to secure an improvement.
The Borough Engineer's staff gave very valuable assistance, and the combined efforts of the two
Departments were attended with satisfactory results.
The Borough Engineer undertook a more intensive surface sweeping of the mewsways, with
the result that there was a general appearance of tidiness, and no complaints arose in regard to
decomposing trade and other refuse deposited on the mewsway surfaces.
Collections of house refuse were made at least twice weekly in all North Kensington mews.
In pursuance of the provisions contained in Section 36 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891.
bills were posted in North Kensington mewsways giving notice that the Council required manure
and other refuse matter from mews and stables to be removed three times weekly. A handbill
giving similar information was delivered at each stable in the North Kensington mewsways. The
officers of the Public Health Department made it a special duty to see that the Council's directions
were observed, and they served notices requiring the removal of many insanitary and defective
brick manure pits and the repair of other receptacles.
With a view to remedying matters still further, steps were taken throughout the year to
prevent the inhabitants keeping hens and ducks in mewsways, and this action has resulted in some
improvement.
The improved conditions obtained can only be maintained with considerable difficulty, owing
to the callous manner in which refuse is deposited in the mewsways; but with the continuance of
the vigilance recently exercised and the maintenance of the close working arrangement between the
officers of the Borough Engineer's and Public Health Departments, and especially with the
assistance of public opinion among the inhabitants concerned, it is hoped to check still further this
type of nuisance.