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53
Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) Act, 1951
Under this Act the Council is responsible for the prevention of
pollution of streams and also for the control of obstructions therein
due to the cutting of vegetation, etc. It can make byelaws for
prescribing standards as to what is to be considered poisonous or
noxious and for regulating the cleansing of articles or throwing of
litter into streams. It can impose conditions on new or altered outlets
into streams for the discharge of trade or sewage effluent. The Port of
London authority has concurrent powers as to prevention of pollution
up to three miles from the tidal limit of the Thames. The PLA's
jurisdiction is considered by that authority as extending to the point on
the Ravensbourne where it is joined by the Pool River (just upstream
of Catford Bridge) and extending over the Quaggy throughout its
northern appearance in the borough, but not to the part of the Quaggy
going through the Grove Park area. In order to avoid duplication
of work where there are concurrent powers with the PLA a conference
was held with representatives of that authority, as a result of which
information was obtained as to the methods the PLA employ to discover
pollution, and the standards adopted. Copies of analyses of samples
taken by the PLA at Deptford Creek (where the Ravensbourne enters
the Thames) and of any special samples taken within the borough, are
forwarded for our information and we in turn have undertaken to
notify the PLA of any pollution, not of a trivial nature, found in the
borough where there is parallel jurisdiction, and to send them copies
of analyses of samples taken at these points.
There are three rivers in the borough, the Ravensbourne, the
Pool and the Quaggy. The Ravensbourne is thought to rise at a spring
known as Caesar's Well at Keston Common and after forming three
lakes it goes through Bromley and Beckenham to enter the borough
adjoining Ravensmead Road about 200 yards east of Ravensbourne
Station. It runs roughly parallel to the Catford loop line, crossing
Brangbourne Road to Southend Lane, and then runs between the
railway line and the Bromley Road until it goes under the railway at
the south end of the Private Banks ground where it is joined by the
River Pool. It then goes on under Catford Road through Ladywell
recreation ground, under Ladywell Road past the borough council
depot in Wearside Road and then the borough council depot in
Molesworth Street, to be joined by the Quaggy between Loampit Vale
and the railway. It leaves the borough at Elverson Road.
The River Pool, which enters the borough at the borough boundary
in Meadowview Road, meanders considerably towards the Gas Works,
goes through the Gas Works ground and through the Pool allotment
gardens, joining the Ravensbourne as indicated above. Traced backwards
from the borough boundary it runs through New Beckenham
and at Cator Park divides into two. The easterly half is called the River
Beck and this can be traced through Beckenham to a large lake in
Kelsey Park and then through West Wickham into the Surrey Hills.
The westerly half, known as the Chaffinch Brook comes from Elmers
End where it is joined by the effluent from the Croydon Sewage Works