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60
NEGLECT TO COMPLY WITH WATER-CLOSET BYE-LAWS.
In accordance with the Bye-laws with respect to water-closets, &c., made under
Section 54 of the City of London (Various Powers) Act, 1900, every person who shall
intend to construct a water-closet, or to connect or disconnect any water-closet from
any soil pipe or drain, shall, at least seven days before the work is to be commenced,
deliver or send to the Corporation at the Guildhall, a plan showing the situation of
such water-closet, drawn to scale, together with a section showing the proposed means
of ventilation.
Under Section 17 every person who shall offend against these Bye-laws renders
himself liable to a penalty of 51. for every such offence, and in the case of a continuing
offence, to a further penalty of 40s. for each day after written notice of this offence
from the Corporation.
Any infringement of such Bye-law is a serious matter and may lead to
considerable trouble and expense to the owner of the property, inasmuch as it may
necessitate the condemnation of a system installed in contravention of the Corporation
requirements.
Three instances of neglect in this respect have occurred during the year, and the
following is a resume, of the facts in regard to each.
194, ALDERSGATE STREET.
The fact that certain sanitary works were being carried out at the above-mentioned
premises was brought to the notice of this Department in April, and on inspection it
was found that new water-closets were in course of construction. No notice of this had
been given or plans submitted. An explanation was received from the builders and
plans were eventually submitted and approved.
26, HOLBORN VIADUCT.
In December, information was received of the construction of water-closets at the
above-mentioned premises. Investigation showed that a large range of water-closets
had been installed, which, although in accordance with the Bye-laws in other respects,
infringed the clause relating to the depositing of plans and the giving of notice.
An explanation was received, and plans were ultimately submitted.
4, WELL STREET.
In this case the owner of the premises employed a workman to instal a new
water-closet and carry out certain alterations to the existing sanitary arrangements in
the basement.
Notice was only given to this Department by the responsible person about a
week after the commencement of the work, and I am of opinion that the infringement
of the Bye-laws was due entirely to ignorance of the requirements.
DRAINAGE PLANS.
In the course of the year, 297 plans were submitted with regard to proposed
reconstruction of water-closets or drains in the City.
Of these, 264 were approved, 24 revised and approved, and 9 not approved.