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The Shops Act, 1934.
This act came into operation on the 31st December, 1934, and requires a closer supervision of
all shops than has hitherto been the case. The administration of the act is shared in London between
the county council and the metropolitan borough councils, the duty of the latter being limited to the
enforcement in all shops of:—
(a) suitable and sufficient means of ventilation;
(b) „ ,, ,, ,, maintaining a reasonable temperature;
(c) „ ,, ,, w.c. accommodation.
In order to give effect to the new legislation in Kensington, it was decided to make a complete
survey of all shops in the borough and to prepare a card index record on the lines of the one existing
in regard to dwelling houses. By the end of the year, 1,245 shops had been inspected and 401 notices
served. The following is a summary of the works which have been required:—
Provision of additional water closet accommodation 88
Provision of lighting and ventilation to existing water closets 68
Repair of existing water closets 133
Provision of suitable and sufficient means of ventilation to the shop 55
Provision of suitable and sufficient means of maintaining a reasonable temperature
in the shop 15
Section 10 (6) of the act provides that a local authority may grant a certificate exempting a shop
from the provision of suitable and sufficient water closet accommodation if they are satisfied that by
reason of restricted accommodation or other special circumstances affecting the shop it is reasonable
that such a certificate should be in force and that suitable and sufficient sanitary accommodation is
otherwise conveniently available. Exemption certificates were granted in 35 cases, but in one instance
the shop was vacated and the certificate subsequently withdrawn.
Shortly after the act came into operation, the council considered the question as to what should
be regarded as suitable and sufficient sanitary accommodation where persons of both sexes are
employed. It was decided that in those shops where members of both sexes are employed, separate
sanitary conveniences for each sex should be required if the number of employees exceeds four; but
that if the number is less than four, one sanitary convenience should be regarded as suitable and
sufficient, provided that the door of such convenience is fitted with a proper lock or fastener on
the internal side and an automatic indicator showing on the external side of the door whether the
apartment is engaged or vacant.
Where during the course of the inspections under the Shops Act any infringements or contraventions
under the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, were observed, the additional requirements were
included on the notices served. The following is a summary of the works required in shops under the
Public Health (London) Act, 1891:—
Drains cleansed 1
Soil pipes, ventilated, repaired 3
Waste pipes, new provided 11
Yards and areas paved, drained, repaired 7
Dustbins provide 2
Accumulations of filth removed 12
Roofs repaired 4
Cleansing 111
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