View report page

162
Metropolitan Police Office,
New Scotland Yard.
March 20th, 1911.
Sir,
With reference to your letter of the 14th inst., enclosing a
copy of a petition from a number of tradesmen in the Bow Road
who complain of injury to their premises by mud splashing, I am
directed by the Commissioner of the Police of the Metropolis to
acquaint you that the Police have from time to time kept observation
on the traffic with the view of ascertaining the actual nature
of the nuisance of mud splashing. It was noticed that mud is
splashed higher and for a longer distance by the feet of horses
than by omnibuses. In wet weather all forms of fast moving
traffic splash mud to a greater or less extent, especially on certain
road surfaces. In the circumstances, the Commissioner does not
feel justified in going beyond what he has already decided, viz., to
allow proprietors to fit any approved form of mud guard if they so
desire.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
C. L. BATHURST,
Chief Clerk.
The Town Clerk
of Poplar.
In accordance with the direction of the Council communications
were addressed to the local authorities in the Metropolitan Police area
asking their support to the proposal of the Council, that splash guards
should be enforced. Mr. Councillor G. Lansbury, M.P., also addressed
a question in Parliament to the Home Secretary on the subject.
In July the General Purposes Committee reported :—
" The Council of the County Borough of West Ham has
convened a Conference of the Councils of Greater London to
discuss the question of mud splashing by motor omnibuses, with a
view to bringing further pressure to bear on the Commissioner of
Police to induce him to accede to a reasonable request for the
abatement of this long continued nuisance."