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38
Pigeon Nuisance.—A local authority is enabled by Section
121 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, to deal with a nuisance
arising from the congregation of pigeons believed to be ownerless
and it has been the practice of this Council to authorise a pigeoncatcher
to deal with pigeons on the highway and other public
places.
During the year several complaints were received and arrangements
were made to reduce the pigeons to a reasonable number.
In one instance, that concerning a school, special trapping methods
had to be devised to deal with pigeons congregating in the roof space.
River Pollution.—A probable explanation for the fact that
no complaints regarding smells emanating from the River were
registered during the current year was the increased rainfull, less
sunshine and lower average temperatures, and the completion of
certain works by the London County Council at their Northern
Outfall at Beckton.
Suspended solids and oxygsn demand on the river an important
criteria in determining the quality of an ifHuent and the L.C.C.
have reported, in connection with their plans to improve the sewage
effluent discharged into the river at their Northern and Southern
Outfalls, that the scheme for the Northern Outfall although not
yet complete has already effected considerable improvement. The
removal of suspended solids has risen from 61% in 1954/55 to 75%
in 1955/56, and oxygen demand reduced from 61% to 51% respectively.
This is an encouraging beginning to a project designed to
restore, even if only partially, the former wholesomeness of the
Thames.
Atmospheric Pollution.—Pollution Recording.—Two atmospheric
pollution measuring stations are maintained by the Council,
one at the Town Hall and the other at Charlton House and the
following tables give the daily mean concentration of smoke and
sulphur dioxide as calculated on readings taken at the Council's
two stations during 1956 :—