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46
Six months after this a further Conference of the Parishes north
of the Thames was held at Paddington, when the following resolution
relating to the storm floodings and the attitude of the Council in the
matter was passed: "That this Conference, comprising representatives
of the leading parishes on the north side of the Thames, hereby
places on record its surprise that, notwithstanding the strong expression
of opinion by the Main Drainage Committee of the London
County Council and its responsible officers, and the repeated representations
of Vestries and District Boards to the effect that the existing
accommodation of the Metropolis was entirely inadequate to carry
out the work required of it, no attempt should have been made to
abate the intolerable nuisance complained of; and further, that this
Conference urges upon the Council the absolute necessity of their at
once carrying out such works as may be necessary to remedy the
above-mentioned state of things."
In December, 1899, the London County Council, upon the report
of the Main Drainage Committee, resolved to proceed with the construction
of the two new main outfalls sewers from Abbey Mills to
Barking, and one between Deptford and Crossness, recommended by
their advisers eight years previously, and pronounced by them at the
time to be of "so urgent a character that no delay should take place
in carrying it out." The resolution, however, was not carried without
opposition, for Sir John McDougall moved, and Mr. Idris seconded,
an amendment to the effect that "the general enlargement of the
main drainage system is not now necessary, but that local floodings
need immediate attention, and that therefore the recommendation be
referred back to the Committee; "but the better sense of the Council
as a body prevailed, and part of the necessary work recommended has
been put in hand, and is now, I am informed, more than half finished.
Those whose duty it is to watch over the health interests of others
feel very strongly with reference to this matter of the flooding of
London basements with sewage from time to time, and while we must
all fully recognise the excellent work which the County Council has
done and is doing, we find it difficult to realise why what is undoubtedly