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Railways, situated in Lots Road. During 1928 a conference was held
in conjunction with the Public Control Committee of the London County
Council. Representatives of the Electric Railways Company attended
and the measures being adopted by the Company to deal with the nuisance
were fully discussed. These include the provision of new boiler plant
and suitable grit arrestors. The company gave an assurance that the
work in connection with the installation of these would be carried out
with all possible speed. It was arranged to hold a further Conference
on the matter if necessity should arise.
The menace to health and property as a result of the emission of large
quantities of smoke, grit and sulphur gases from large Power Stations
has given rise to widespread public anxiety during the past two years.
Serious apprehension arose in Chelsea owing to the fact that the construction
of a new large Power station, adjoining Chelsea Bridge, on the
Battersea side of the river, had been approved in connection with the
South-East England Electricity Scheme. Plans were also announced
for a vast extension of the existing Fulham Power Station, adjoining
the western boundary of the Borough.
The adjacent boroughs of Westminster and Kensington, together with
the London County Council also appreciated the gravity of the situation.
As a consequence, these several Councils, in conjunction with the Chelsea
Borough Council decided to oppose the proposed extension of the Fulham
Power Station. 'A public enquiry was held before the Electricity Commissioners
on 15th December, 1930, and following days, at which the
Councils were legally represented and the objections to the extension
of the Fulham Station were put forward by experts.
Subsequently, the Electricity Commissioners announced their consent
to the proposed extension, subject to the provision of certain measures
to prevent injury to health and property. The Fulham Borough Council
has been placed under statutory obligation not to work the generating
station when extended so as to occasion a nuisance. To that end it is
stipulated that the Fulham Borough Council shall employ continuously
the most efficient methods which may for the time being be reasonably
practicable (a.) to eliminate smoke and grit; (b.) to prevent the discharge
of sulphur and its compounds into the atmosphere; and (c.) to avoid
noise or vibration arising from the working of the station.
Fouling of Footways by Dogs.—The Borough Council have obtained
sanction for a byelaw to deal with this nuisance. It has already been
found useful, the condition of footways having improved considerably
since the measure came into operation. During the year no prosecutions
were taken for infringement of the byelaw.
Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919.—A Sanitary Inspector
is authorised under this Act to act as Rat Officer in his district. The
Act places the responsibility for rat preventive measures upon the
occupiers of premises. During the year the Council provided rat catching
varnish to applicants for the destruction of rats and 100 bait traps were
prepared and issued. In conjunction with the Works Departments
investigation was made of a number of old sewers likely to be infested
with rats and a large number of baits were laid. During the year many