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9
Server Emanations.—At intervals during 1929 and to an extent also in other
years, especially in the early summer months, a number of complaints were received
with regard to nuisance from smells issuing from sewer ventilators in the roadway.
In the main the complaints came from residents in the neighbourhood of Avenue
Road and St. John's Wood Road, and had reference to smells escaping from the
part of the sewerage system ("deep sewers") for which the County Council is
responsible. For this reason the complaints in each instance were forwarded to
the appropriate officer of the L.C.C. As this did not produce any marked effect
representations were made direct to the County Council by the Public Healtii
Committee of the Council and later a deputation from the Committee, introduced by
Mr. Alderman Sanger, L.C.C., consisting of Mr. Councillor Hugh Jones, a former
Chairman of the Public Health Committee, and the Medical Officer of Health, was
received by the Main Drainage Committee of the Count)- Council. Eventually, as
a result of these various steps, a large number of sewer ventilating openings on
the roadway were closed. Following this, complaints largely ceased, and in 1920
were not renewed.
Closet Accommodation.
In the table at page 14, summarizing the work carried out by the district
inspectors, figures indicating the number of defects in water closets remedied and
of water closets erected are set out.
In most instances the closets erected were with a view to providing additional
accommodation in tenement houses, shops, or workshops or in order to afford
suitable separate accommodation for women in places where both sexes were or
were about to be employed. Though there may be here and there a small lock-up
shop in which it is necessary for the individuals engaged on the premises to make
use of a convenience in some other part of the building, or more rarely in an
adjoining building, there are no premises in the Borough totally without sanitary
conveniences of this type. The only class of closet is, of course, the water closet.
One of the great difficulties experienced from time to time is in regard to
finding a suitable place for a convenience and a position in which there will be
complete compliance with the requirements of the regulations in respect of waterclosets.
This is particularly the case in relation to closets in basements and in the
more over-crowded business and shopping portions of the Borough. All plans
showing proposals to construct water-closets are most carefully scrutinized and
only if it is impossible to find a completely suitable position, and there appears to
be no possible risk of nuisance or injury to health, is permission granted to
construct the convenience in a situation where there is not compliance.
As already noted, the 1930 by-laws have considerably modified the requirements
so far as situation is concerned. Particularly by allowing of the introduction
of closets in bathrooms entered directly from rooms used exclusively as sleeping
or dressing-rooms they have met a demand that has been increasing for some time
and that caused considerable administrative difficulties.
Public Sanitary Conveniences.—The usual supervision w as exercised over the
public conveniences during the year, Inspector. Hill, the outdoor superintendent,
visiting those provided for the use of males; the women inspectors, especially Miss
Baker, supervising those provided for females.
Reports and comparative statements as to receipts for use of the underground
conveniences were regularly submitted to and considered by the Public Health
Committee.
Of the conveniences the most recently provided are those at Salisbury Street,
which were opened in March, 1925. At intervals during the last few years a
demand for accommodation in the neighbourhood of St. John's Wood Road Station
and Lord's Cricket Ground has been raised and has been accentuated by the action
of the Metropolitan Railway Company in limiting the user of conveniences at the
station to passengers only. Several most careful inquiries have been made with
a view to discovering a suitable site but up to the present without success. The
matter remains under consideration.