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the Medical Officer of Health. In cases in which there was departure from the
requirements a special report was made to the Public Health Committee, who
rarely refused approval if satisfied that compliance was impossible and that there
was no possibility of nuisance or injury to health arising. In the majority of cases
the departure referred to closet accommodation and affected particularly conveniences
proposed to be constructed in basements.
Now that the new by-laws (1930) of the London County Council with regard
to sanitary conveniences are in operation the number of such cases is diminishing
Drovision having been made for accepting as compliance a number of arrangements
which were definitely outside the provisions of the earlier by-laws.
Combined Drainage.—Orders under seal as to combined drainage were issued
in respect of 56 premises. The number in 1931 was 34.
Closet Accommodation.
In the table at page 26, summarising 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 scrutinised, but as
already noted, the 1930 by-laws having considerably modified the requirements so
far as situation is concerned, the need for granting special approval now less
frequently arises. 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 was 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.
SCAVENGING.
Refuse Collection.—The collection of house refuse in the Borough is under
the jurisdiction of the Highways Committee of the Council and under the control
of the Borough Engineer, Mr. James Gair, to whom I am indebted for the information
given here. The system of collection is continually under revision and
changes are made from time to time with a view of more efficient working. All
premises in the Borough now receive at least a twice weekly collection. In addition,
over a great portion of the Borough a daily collection is made, and in certain streets
in which refuse collecting vehicles are prohibited by the Ministry of Transport during
certain hours, collection is carried out from the kerb within the hours prescribed.
This naturally entails a greater concentration of collecting vehicles in certain parts
of the Borough and still further increases the number of calls made per annum.