View report page

189
Pigeon Nuisance
A local authority is enabled by Section 74 of the Public Health
Act, 1961, to deal with nuisance arising from the congregation of
pigeons believed to be ownerless.
During the year, 55 complaints were received and, where
justified, arrangements were made to reduce the pigeons to a
reasonable number by members of the Rodent Control Staff.
In one instance narcotic treatment, authorised by licence from the
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, was carried out with
success at Well Hall Pleasaunce. To ensure that the pigeons would
take the narcotic bait, pre-baiting with wheat took place between
4.30 a.m. and 7.00 a.m. for 19 consecutive days.
River Pollution
No complaints regarding pollution were made to this department
during the current year.
In the London area, sewage and its disposal, amounting to a
daily dry flow of approximately 300 million gallons, is under the
control of the Greater London Council and after treatment at the
northern and southern outfalls at Beckton and Crossness respectively, the resultant sewage effluent is discharged into the Thames.
It is then considered by various authorities to be a pollutant and
the predominating cause of complaint.
However, having been aware of the shortcomings of its sewage
disposal system for some considerable time, in recent years, the
Greater London Council (previously as the L.C.C.), has sought to
improve the position by instituting new processes and improvements.
In continuing their policy of improving the effluent being
discharged at their sewage outfalls the G.L.C., during the current
year, approved an extension to the Beckton sewage treatment works
at a cost estimated to be almost £21 million. Furthermore, the
possibility of overland pipeline and sea outfall disposal of digested
sludge to a discharge area in the outer Thames estuary is under
active consideration.
A remarkable improvement in the condition of the river water
has been recorded during the last two or three years and the Water
Pollution Research Laboratory even holds out hopes that salmon
may once more gain the upper reaches of the Thames as they did
in the 19th century.
Sampling.—In accordance with the Rivers (Prevention of
Pollution) Acts, 1951/61, a sample of water taken by the G.L.C.'s
Regional Engineer from the River Ravensbourne at Deptford Bridge