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G. So far as practicable any process connected with the demolition likely to cause
nuisance from dust should not be carried out during ordinary business hours, particularly if
the building to be demolished is in a main thoroughfare.
7. On completion of demolition all necessary steps should be taken effectually to seal off
all drains so as to prevent any nuisance from rats.
In connection with the power now conferred on the London County Council to make
these by-laws, it may be of interest to recall that as long ago as the year 1915 the Holborn
Council asked the Local Government Board to sanction the making of a by-law to control
the demolition of old buildings with a view to the prevention of nuisances from dust. The
Board was unable to assent to the proposal and suggested that proceedings should be taken
for the abatement of any such nuisance under Section 2 of the Public Health (London) Act,
1891. Subsequently proceedings were so taken, the summons being dismissed by the
Magistrate at the Police Court on the ground that the nuisance did not arise within
Section 2 of the before-mentioned Act.
By-laws dealing with the subject have been drafted by the London County
Council, and submitted to the Borough Councils for their observations. A communication
has been received (March, 1929) stating that the London County
Council is taking steps to ascertain whether, subject to the consideration of any
objections which they may receive if and when the by-laws have been made, the
Minister of Health would be prepared to confirm the by-laws.
Nuisance from Pigeons.
The London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1927, gave power to Local
Authorities in London to take steps for the purpose of abating or mitigating or
preventing or minimising any nuisance, annoyance or damage caused, or which
might be caused, by the congregation at any place in the County of London of
house doves or pigeons having, or believed by the Local Authority to have, no
owner. The Act gave power to Local Authorities to seize, destroy and sell or
otherwise dispose of such doves or pigeons in excess of such number as the
Authority might consider reasonable.
In Holborn, pigeons have, from time to time, given rise to nuisance.
It was found that a large number of such pigeons lived on and around the British
Museum buildings, and H.M. Office of "Works expressed willingness to
co-operate with the Council in dealing with the matter. Nuisances from similar
sources were also found to exist on certain churches and in connection with some
other buildings in the Holborn area.
Arrangements were made with a contractor to undertake the work of reducing
the number of ownerless pigeons in the. Borough by one-half. The arrangement
included provision for all the pigeons caught in the Borough to be brought to the
Council's depot and killed in the presence of a member of the Public Health
staff. No ringed birds were trapped. There is considerable difficulty in trapping
pigeons on the public highway in central London areas. To facilitate the work
in Holborn sanction was given by H.M. Office of Works for the Contractor
employed by the Council to operate in the enclosed forecourt of the British
Museum. The Authorities of two of the churches principally affected also extended
their co-operation by giving permission for the Contractor not only to use the
churchyards, but to enter the towers of the churches where trapping could be
more effectively accomplished. In addition to the actual catching and killing