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126
Flood works.
pond of the station at an estimated cost of £500 and a new centrifugal pump was
obtained at a cost of £195.
North
eastern
storm relief
sewer.
The Council, on 22nd July, 1919, had before it a comprehensive scheme of works
to mitigate floodings in various parts of London on both sides of the Thames during
times of heavy rainfall. (See Annual Report for 1920, vol. III., p. 121.) Part
of this, a storm-relief sewer from Kelvin-road, Highbury, to the Thames at Shadwell,
was agreed to before the war, but had to be postponed. The work is the subject
of two contracts. Contract No. 1 for the section from Kelvin-road to Bethnalgreen-road
has been let to the Metropolitan Tunnel and Public Works Company,
Limited; contract No. 2, in respect of the remainder, has been let to Scott and
Middleton, Ltd. Work under contract No. 1, begun in May, 1921, involves the
construction of a brick sewer, about 2½ miles long, circular in section, varying from
8 to 9 feet in diameter. Work under contract No. 2 was begun in June, 1921. This
section is designed as a cast-iron tunnel lined with concrete. It is about 1½ miles
long, 11 feet 4 inches in diameter, and is being constructed from the Shadwell end,
its outlet into the Thames being through the river wall fronting the new King Edward
Memorial Park at Shadwell. At the end of 1923 the driving of the tunnels had
been practically completed, and the lining and subsidiary works are proceeding.
To provide additional employment the Council in 1921, accelerated the work on
other portions of the 1919 scheme, particularly those which would provide work
suitable for unskilled or partly-skilled labour. The works selected were the improvement
of the river Graveney, the Wandle Valley sewer, the Charlton storm reliefsewer,
and flood relief works at Hammersmith. Unemployment continued during
1922 and for its relief further portions of the 1919 scheme were undertaken. These
comprise the enlargement of the Isle of Dogs and Abbey Mills pumping stations,
and the construction of the south-western storm relief sewer. In 1923, further
works included in the scheme were put in hand, comprising the construction of
storm relief sewers in Lewisham and Woolwich and the installation of additional
machinery at Shad Thames pumping station. H.M. Government, through the
Unemployment Grants Committee, agreed to make a grant towards the cost.
Details of all these schemes are given below.
River
Graveney.
The improvement of the river Graveney consisted in the formation of a concrete
aqueduct, partly open and partly covered, on the line of, or near to, the stream,
and the provision of a new aqueduct about half a mile long to form another connection
with the river Wandle. The estimated cost of the work, including provision
for land, compensation and supervision was £230,000. A contract for the work
was let to Messrs. John Price and Son. Work under the contract was begun in
June, 1921, and completed in January, 1923, at a cost amounting to approximately
£167,000.
Wandle
Valley
sewer.
The Wandle Valley sewer is designed both as a soil sewer and a storm-water
sewer. Sewage will be carried into the intercepting sewers and so to the southern
outfall, while the storm water will be discharged by gravitation into the Wandle.
The sewer will be about 2⅓ miles in length, and, if necessary, can be extended to the
Thames. The cost will be about £170,000. A contract for the work was let to
W. G. Tarrant, Ltd., and a start was made in December, 1921. At the end of 1923
the work was very nearly completed.
Charlton
storm relief
sewer.
The Charlton storm relief sewer is designed to afford relief to the southern highlevel
sewer. It connects with the high-level sewer at Charlton and is constructed
across Greenwich marshes to discharge storm water direct into the Thames.
Owing to the recent development of land for building in Woolwich and Lewisham
the construction of this sewer had become urgent. The cost, including the cost of
property and incidentals, will be about £160,000. For the construction of the sewer
itself the tender amounting to £128,452, upon a fixed price basis of S. Pearson and
Son (contracting department), Limited, was accepted by the Council in January,
1922, and work was begun in the following month. At the end of 1923 the work
was very nearly completed.