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168
Flood relief
works.
Shad Thames
pumping
station.
The work of removing from the sewers deposits which accumulate there is one
of considerable magnitude. For this purpose the county is divided into four
districts, each district being made the subject of a separate contract. Contracts
are based upon prices for the cartage and disposal of the deposit which is removed
from the sewers by the Council's staff. The cost of this work in 1929 was approximately
£4,100.
One of the recommendations of the report of the commission appointed by the
Secretary of State for the Home Department to inquire into the Holborn explosions
and fires was to the effect that any structures forming an underground cavity should
be adequately and continuously ventilated. With a view therefore to improving
the ventilation of the Council's sewers a number of surface ventilators, which had
been temporarily closed, were re-opened in May, 1929. The opening of the ventilators
was followed by a period of drought and the lack of rain in sufficient quantities
to ensure proper flushing gave rise to a number of complaints of smells from the
sewers. These complaints were investigated and as the result some 570 of the 2,000
re-opened ventilators were again temporarily closed. The question of the adequate
ventilation of the sewers was receiving serious consideration at the end of the year.
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 river Thames
during times of heavy rainfall. The scheme, which is described in the Annual
Report for 1920 (Vol. Ill, 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
and the North-western storm relief sewer. 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 specified works included in the scheme of 1919, the following have been
completed:—The improvement of portion of the river Graveney completed in
January, 1923 (cost, approximately £200,000), the Wandle Valley sewer (first portion)
completed in January, 1924 (£142,064), Charlton storm relief sewer completed in
March, 1924 (£150,000), the North-eastern storm relief sewer completed in September,
1924 (£700,000), the Beverley Brook relief culvert completed in September, 1926
(£41,447), the Lewisham Branch sewer completed in October, 1926 (£246,656),
enlargement of Abbey Mills pumping station completed in 1926 (£37,700), Northwestern
storm relief sewer completed in September, 1927 (£465,000), Lewisham
Branch sewer (Hither Green branch) completed in August, 1927 (£47,160).
The estimated final cost shows an increase of about 72 per cent, on pre-war
figures.
Shad Thames pumping station, opened in 1909, was designed to accommodate
six pumping sets, but as a first instalment three only were put in. The flood relief
scheme of 1919 included proposals for completing the equipment of this station.
The second instalment, consisting of three engines and pumps, is being added at
an approximate cost of £22,000. The installation of the machinery was completed
during the year.