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41
Reference was made in the Annual Report for 1935 of complaints received by the Department, regarding the emission of grit
from the two large generating stations in the Borough. It is
gratifying to note since the installation of the new plant and the
provision of a new shaft by the London Power Company at their
station in St. Nicholas, fewer complaints have been received.
Owing to the increased activities of industrial concerns and
extensions of factories, it is inevitable that more smoke is omitted
year by year, and only recently the Astronomer Royal (Dr.
Spencer-Jones) has drawn attention to the fact that the atmospheric
pollution in Greenwich, is 25% worse than for the previous year.
This is despite all the efforts to combat this nuisance.
In connection with the East Greenwich generating station,
the Public Health Committee in May decided that an expert's
opinion should be obtained as to the source of the grit nuisance,
which was causing the complaints in this area. The services of
Dr. Lessing were retained for this purpose and a report was submitted
to the Committee in September. As a result of consideration of
this report, a conference was arranged with the chief officials of
the London Passenger Transport Board towards the close of the
year. It is hoped that in the next annual report, it may be
possible to state that matters have been greatly ameliorated.
Sewer Emanations.—Complaints were not nearly so numerous
this year, and when made were forwarded to the County Council
to be dealt with.
Common Lodging House.—One common lodging house
exists in the Borough. It is regularly visited by the Sanitary
Inspector and is well conducted.
Scavenging and Refuse Disposal.—The collection of house,
etc., refuse in the Borough is under the control of the Borough
Engineer, who has kindly supplied me with the following information
relating to the disposal of refuse.
"The amount of refuse collected in the Borough during the
year ended 31st December, 1936 was approximately 21,933 tons
of which 18,852 tons were dealt with at the Council's Refuse Disposal
Plant and the remainder disposed of by barging to the "control
tips " under contract.
I am endeavouring to reduce this percentage and, if possible,
to delete it altogether.
The collection of house refuse was further improved during
the past year by the use of an additional Pagefield unit so that
except for some odd collections from Eating houses and Markets
that have to be made by horse cart, the whole of the house refuse
of the Borough is collected by mechanical vehicles in an up-to-date
manner.