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There are two other areas in the Golborne Ward and in the
Holland Ward where investigations have not yet been completed.
A preliminary estimate for providing sewers to relieve the
three principal areas is of the order of £350,000. This estimate can
only be regarded as a very tentative figure at this stage, for it may
be necessary to divert plant belonging to the public utility authorities.
These sewers will not assist 432 basements with floor levels
either below, or less than 1 ft. above, the crown of the sewers. Of
these 432 basements, 372 could be made reasonably immune from sewer
flooding if they were provided with anti-flooding devices. The London
County Council estimate that the average cost of doing this would be
between £150 and £250 per house. There is no practical cure for the
remaining 60 basements, which must be regarded as "undrainable".
The County Council suggest that legislation should be
promoted by a clause in a General Powers Bill, on a request from the
Metropolitan Boroughs' Standing Joint Committee, to enable metropolitan
borough councils:-
(i) require owners of undrainable premises, which can be
made suitable for residential purposes by the execution
of minor works to protect them from flooding, to carry
out such works as may be prescribed; and to carry out
such works in default of the owners; and
(ii) require the drains in undrainable premises which cannot
be made suitable for residential purposes to be sealed
off, and the use of such basements for residential
purposes discontinued.
The County Council suggested that the cost of the minor
works referred to in (i) should be shared between the owner and public
funds, say, in equal proportions, and that the question of the actual
proportion, and which authority is to be responsible for rehousing
families displaced as the result of any action taken under (ii),
should be matters for consultation between the County Council and the
Standing Joint Committee.
The Council agreed that legislation on the lines suggested
by the London County Council should be promoted without delay, but
considered that the power of the local authority to contribute towards
the cost of the works referred to in (i) above should be permissive
and not mandatory. They were also of opinion that the proposals do
not go far enough, because the upper parts of premises with closed
basements will remain in use, and any inlets to the drain serving
these upper parts should be raised to ground level. There should be
a requirement that, when the basements are closed and the drain
sealed, work should be carried out to ensure that they will not
become damp and derelict.
Whilst it is a serious reflection that parts of Kensington
have been subject to flooding during heavy rain storms for many years,
it is a matter of satisfaction to be able to report that urgent steps
are being taken to prevent, as far as practicable, a repetition of
these events.
ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION
Clean Air Act, 1956. Certain provisions of the Clean Air
Act, 1956, which received Royal Assent on 5th July, 1956, came into
force on 31st December, 1956, and the remaining provisions came into
operation on 1st June, 1958•