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entirely dependent upon Deptford pumping station. The new station was designed
to accommodate six pumping sets, but as a first instalment three only were put
in and they served for several years. Further floodings occurred in this area and
the flood relief scheme of 1919 included proposals for completing the equipment
of this station. The Council on 4th December, 1923, approved an estimate of
expenditure of £22,000 for this work which will be undertaken as soon as possible.
Beverley
Brook.
For several years past complaint nas been made of floodings in Barnes during
times of heavy rainfall from the overflowing of Beverley-brook. The total length
of the brook and its tributaries is about 30 miles, and it drains an area of about
14,500 acres, only about 1,820 of which are in London. The Metropolis Management
Act, 1855, vested in the Metropolitan Board of Works the lower portion of the
brook, with a length of about 4 miles, including l¼ miles through Crown lands (Richmond-park).
The use made of the brook for the discharge of storm water from London
is comparatively small. In 1913 certain of the out-county authorities who were most
affected were approached with a view of contributing towards a relief scheme from
which they would benefit, but with the exception of the Barnes Urban District
Council all declined. The negotiations with the latter, interrupted by the war,
have been brought to a conclusion, subject to ratification by Parliament which
the Council on 6th November, 1923, decided to seek. The principal item of the
arrangement is the construction of a culvert, not less that 8 feet in diameter, to
draw off storm water from the brook at a point near Priest's-bridge, Upper Richmondroad
and to discharge it into the Thames by the most direct route. The approximate
estimate of the cost of this work is £39,500, towards which the District Council
will contribute one-fifth or £8,000, whichever is less.
Sewer in
Streathamhill
and
Brixton-hill.
To relieve floodings in certain areas in the south-west district of London the
south-western storm relief sewer (see above) is now in course ot construction. This
sewer cannot by itself relieve floodings which occur in parts of Streatham and Brixton
as the local sewer which runs down Streatham-hill and Brixton-hill is of insufficient
capacity to convey the quantity of water which falls during heavy storms. The
local sewer in question is under the control of the Wandsworth and the Lambeth
Metropolitan Borough Councils so far as it lies in the areas under their respective
control. The borough councils urged that the Council should take over this sewer
and carry out such works thereto as might be necessary to relieve floodings along
its length. Alternatively they suggested an alteration in the proposed route of the
south-western storm relief sewer so as to obviate the necessity for the execution
of works to the local sewer. The Council was unable to accede to either of these
suggestions which, although they might relieve the two boroughs of expense would
entail greater expenditure on the general community. After negotiation the
borough councils agreed that the Council should undertake the construction of a
new sewer, 4 feet in diameter, in Streatham-hill and Brixton-hill to connect with
the south-western storm relief sewer at the joint expense of the borough councils
in the proportion of two-thirds to Wandsworth and one-third to Lambeth. After
completion the new sewer will be vested in the Council. The proposed works will
leave the present local sewer in Water-lane as a connecting link between two of the
Council's sewers and it is therefore proposed that the Water-lane sewer shall be taken
over by the Council as a main sewer. There remains the present local sewer in
Streatham-hill and Brixton-hill and this will continue to be maintained by the
borough councils. The estimated cost of the new sewer, including expenditure
not provided for in the contract, amounts to £57,500 and the work has been included
in the list of works approved by the Unemployment Grants Committee for the
purpose of State aid and steps are being taken to put the work in hand as soon as
preliminary arrangements are completed.
Out-county
drainage.
The annual contribution by the West Ham Corporation in respect of the drainage
of the borough into the Council's system was fixed by an arbitrator in 1904 at 2¼d.
in the £ on the assessable value of the borough (excluding Government property).