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The London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1955.
Section 25 of the above Act relative to choked drains was used on
30 occasions. This Section enables a notice to be served upon an
owner or occupier to clear a stopped-up drain, water closet or soil pipewithin
forty-eight hours. If the notice is not complied with the Council
may carry out the work and recover the cost. It was necessary for
the Council to do the work on seven occasions.
Section 26 enables the Council to re-instate a water supply to a
dwelling after the supply has been withdrawn by the Metropolitan
Water Board following a defect in the supply pipe or fittings. Notices
were served on six occasions and in two cases the Council did the
work in default.
Authority was given by the Council to the Medical Officer of
Health, the Deputy Medical Officer of Health, and the Chief Public
Health Inspector to serve Section 27 notices on behalf of the Council
to remedy nuisances within a specific time where unreasonable delay
would be occasioned by following the normal procedure. Six such
notices were served, and the Council did the work in default in two
cases.
Public Lavatory Accommodation.
Five public conveniences for both sexes and one for females only
are provided by the Council in various parts of the Borough, two
being underground. All the lavatory accommodation at each of the
conveniences is provided free, and, in the interests of public health, free
washing facilities are also available.
Three public urinals are maintained, and in addition the urinals
attached to ten licensed premises are, by arrangement with the owners,
available to the general public.
Drainage Work.
The by-laws made by the London County Council under the
Metropolis Management Acts with regard to drainage and also those
under the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, relating to water closets,
etc., are enforced by the Council.
During the year new drains were constructed to 291 new dwellings.
and the drains of 22 old buildings were partially or entirely reconstructed
under the supervision of the Officers of the Health Department.
133 plans of proposed drainage work were deposited in 1957, as
compared with 118 in 1956.
During the year drains were tested by smoke on 128 occasions and
45 were found defective. The water test was applied on 1,057 occasions,
this being mainly to drains in course of construction.
The frontage drains of 26 premises were constructed or reconstructed.
Combined Drainage.
No claims were made against the Council in connection with combined
drainage.