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24
During the year drains were tested by smoke on 208 occasions and
34 were found defective. The water test was applied on 1,438 occasions,
this being mainly to drains in course of construction.
The frontage drains of 21 premises were constructed or reconstructed.
In 2 cases, the Council carried out drainage works in default of
compliance by the owners with the requirements of notices served under
the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, the cost being recoverable from
the respective owners.
Under the provisions of the London County Council (General
Powers) Act, 1951, which came into operation on the 1st August,
1951, appeals against acts and decisions of sanitary authorities in regard
to drainage and water closets, which formerly had to be made to
the London County Council, now have to be made to a court of
summary jurisdiction. No such appeal was made during the year.
Five summonses were issued under the Drainage By-laws against a
firm of builders, one summons for failing to deposit proper plans of
drainage work they had carried out and four for carrying out work
in a manner contrary to the requirements of the By-laws. However,
the plans were deposited, and the faulty work rectified, before the date
of hearing of the summonses, which were then withdrawn on payment
of £1 1s. 0d. costs.
Combined Drainage.
Claims were made by the owners of two houses, the drainage system
of which had been found to be defective, that the combined portion of
this system was a "sewer" repairable by the Council. The claim
was admitted and the work to the combined drain was carried out by
the Council.
Smoke Nuisances.
During the year 13 complaints were made, alleging nuisances
from smoke, dust, grit, etc., emitted from premises occupied by various
industrial and public utility undertakings in the Borough. All such
complaints were carefully investigated.
The most serious and persistent source of dust and grit emissions
has again been a large gas works. This has been referred to in previous
Annual Reports and is due principally to the operation of plant of an
obsolete type, replacement of which does not seem likely to take place
for a number of years.
Apart from this instance, the complaints related to emissions from
various industrial plants. On investigation, they were found to be due
to some transient cause such as the use of unsuitable fuel, or temporary
breakdown of some part of the plant.
The total number of observations made was 180. Four notices
(three intimation and one statutory) were served and were complied
with.
Effluvium Nuisances.
A small number of complaints alleging nuisance from effluvia
emitted from various industrial and business premises were received.
They were all of a minor nature and were successfully dealt with by
informal action.