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187
Heathwall
pumping
station.
The overhaul of the four main gas engines and pumps and auxiliary machinery,
including the provision of a new air-compressing set, hydraulic pump and
accumulator, at Heathwall pumping station has been undertaken at an estimated
cost of £780. Repairs to the roof and the formation of openings therein to give
access to the valves on the circulating water tanks have been authorised at an
estimated cost of £120.
Shad
Thames
pumping
station.
The gas engines were overhauled during the year at an estimated cost of £330.
On 30th October, 1924, an explosion, which injured two members of the staff
occurred in one of the engines owing to an accumulation of gas in the crank chamber.
The estimated cost of the repairs is £250.
Flood works.
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. The scheme is described in the Annual Report for 1920,
{vol. III., p. 121.) Part of this scheme, a north-eastern storm relief sewer from
Kelvin-road, Highbury, to the Thames at Shad well, was completed and available
lor use on 24th June, 1924.
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, and in 1924 the Council decided to
undertake the construction of the north-western storm relief sewer. H.M. Government,
through the Unemployment Grants Committee, agreed to make a grant
towards the cost. The completion of the improvement of the river Graveney was
reported in the Annual Report for 1923 (vol. III., p. 126). Details of the other
schemes are given below.
Wandle
Valley
sewer.
The Wandle Valley sewer is both a soil sewer and a storm-water sewer.
Sewage is 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 work was undertaken by W. G. Tarrant, Ltd., in December, 1921, and completed
in January, 1924, at a cost including incidentals of approximately £143,000.
Charlton
storm relief
sewer.
The Charlton storm relief sewer will relieve the southern high-level sewer.
It connects with the high-level sewer at Charlton and is constructed across Greenwich
marshes to discharge storm water direct into the Thames. The construction of
the sewer was undertaken by S. Pearson and Son (Contracting Department),
Ltd., in February, 1922, and was completed in March, 1924, at a cost, including
the cost of property and incidentals, of approximately £135,000.
Flood relief
works nt
Hammersmith.
The relief scheme for the low-level area in west London of about 2,500 acres
in Fulham, Kensington and Hammersmith provides for the construction of a
sewer about a mile in length having an outlet to the Thames near Hammersmith
Bridge, and the erection of a new pumping station near the outlet. The
estimate for the whole work, including the acquisition of the property, etc., was
£360,000. The sewer was completed in June, 1923, at a cost of £137,440. The
tender of GWynne's Engineering Company, Ltd., amounting to £59,370 for five sets
of engines and pumps, was accepted on 17th February, 1922, the main and auxiliary
engines being sublet to the Premier Gas Engine Company, Ltd. Later a receiver and
manager on behalf of the debenture holders of the former company was appointed.
Substantial progress had been made with the contract, and to avoid delay it was