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171
during a time of heavy rainfall. The scheme, which is described in the Annual
Report for 1920 (vol. [II., p. 121), specified seventeen works and the total estimated
cost, based on pre-war conditions, was £2,467,150.
The first work undertaken was the construction of the north-eastern storm
relief sewer from Kelvin-road, Highbury, to the Thames at Shadwell, which was
commenced in 1921.
In order to provide additional employment the Council on various dates subsequently
decided to accelerate 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 relief sewer, flood relief works at Hammersmith,
the enlargement of the Isle of Dogs and Abbey Mills pumping stations, the
south-western storm relief sewer, storm relief sewers in Lewisham and Woolwich,
the north-western storm relief sewer, and the installation of additional machinery
at Shad Thames pumping station. All these works have been approved
for grant by the Unemployment Grants Committee.
A further item in the scheme, the construction of the Beverley Brook relief
culvert, which was commenced in 1925, did not rank for Government grant.
Of the 17 specified works included in the scheme of 1919, 12 have been
completed or are in hand. The estimated final cost shows an increase of about 72
per cent, on pre-war figures.
The completed works comprise the improvement of the river Graveney completed
in January, 1923 (cost, approximately £200,000), the Wandle Valley sewer
(first portion) completed in January, 1924 (£175,000), Charlton storm relief sewer
completed in March, 1924 (£150,000) and the north-eastern storm relief sewer completed
in September, 1924 (£700,000). Further particulars of these works are given
in previous Annual Reports. Details of the schemes which were completed during
the year under review or were still in hand at the end thereof are given below.
The relief scheme tor the low-level area in West London of about 2,500 acres in
Fulham, Kensington and Hammersmith, which provided 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, has been completed,
at a cost of approximately £300,000.
Flood relief
works at
Hammer-
smith.
The outlet trom Hammersmith storm water pumping station discharges into the
River Thames at the Hammersmith Metropolitan Borough Council's wharf, near the
pumping station. At the same wharf the borough council has an installation of
pumps which draws water from the river for condensing purposes at the borough
council's electricity generating station through inlet pipes laid in the river bed.
Complaints were made by the borough council that the working of the pumps at the
storm water pumping station caused the inlets to the condensing water pipes of the
electricity generating station to become choked with debris stirred from the river
bottom. Of the various alternatives considered for remedying the cause of complaint,
that of altering the position of the inlets and modifying the methods of circulating
the condensing water appeared to be the most satisfactory. After negotiations, the
borough council agreed to accept, in full settlement of its claim, the sum of £5,000,
from the Council towards the cost of the works nronosed.
Hammersmith
Pumping
Station.
The enlargement of Abbey Mills pumping station involves alterations in the
Worthington engine house (now known as the Gwynne engine house), at the station,
the installation of new pumping plant there, and the provision of additional boilers
in one of the boiler houses and of supplementary plant. This work was completed
in October, 1926, at an approximate cost of £60,000.
Abbey Mills
pumping
station
enlargement.
In addition to the pumping carried out at Abbey Mills pumping station in
connection with the drainage of the low-lying areas in Poplar and the Isle of Dogs,
storm water from these areas is pumped direct into the Thames at the Isle of Dogs
Isle of Dogs
pumping
station enlargement.