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representations have been made to the authorities concerned, and in May, 1949, a conference took
place between the Group Engineer of the British Electricity Authority, the two Generating Station
Superintendents, and the Medical Officer of Health and other officers of the Public Health
Department. The Medical Officer of Health referred to repeated complaints, especially with regard
to the emission of grit which caused great nuisance in the neighbourhood. On behalf of the British
Electricity Authority it was said that it was their intention to do everything possible with the plant
at present at their disposal to prevent atmospheric pollution. Both stations were equipped with grit
extraction apparatus, but this was twenty years old and could not be considered 100 per cent, efficient
by modern standards. The Authority had a very large over-all construction programme and new
stations would be provided with the most up-to-date plant. The trouble with the two stations in
question was in some degree due to overloading, but as new stations came into operation this would
ease. It would be four or five years before the St. Marylebone stations could be dealt with ;
meanwhile the Authority were not prepared to divert energy from their big scale programme to gain
some comparatively small local advantage. It was arranged that the Public Health Department
would notify the Generating Station Superintendents of serious smoke emissions immediately they
were observed in order that preventive measures could at once be taken. The actual emission of grit,
however, it was almost impossible to detect.
Elsewhere observations were made regularly throughout the year, and complaints were received in
respect of smoke nuisances arising from fifteen premises, relating to commercial undertakings, blocks
of flats, private houses and a public institution. In most cases the nuisance, recurrent in some
instances, was abated after informal action. Variation in the grades of coal available gave rise to
difficulties in operating a number of boiler installations.
Legal proceedings were instituted in respect of smoke emanations from a large commercial building
and the firm were convicted and fined £5 0s. 0d. with £3 3s. 0d. costs.
Poisons.—The names of 79 traders were on the Council's list of persons entitled to sell poisons included
in Part 11 of the Poisons List (Pharmacy and Poisons Acts, 1852 to 1941), the premises concerned
numbering 93.
Factories.—As indicated in the report for 1948, it was intended to carry out this year a complete
survey of all factories in St. Marylebone, involving the inspection of some 2,000 premises,
approximately 75 per cent. of which have mechanical power. Owing to staffing and other difficulties,
however, it was not possible to commence this task until near the close of the year. Following 446
inspections carried out during 1949, conditions were remedied in 70 instances (want of cleanliness, 29;
insufficient or unsuitable sanitary conveniences, 35; overcrowding, 4; inadequate ventilation, 1;
unreasonable temperature, 1). Outworkers lists were received from 80 employers in respect of 160
contractors and 1,131 workpeople. Of these, 76 contractors and 385 workpeople carried out the work
in the Borough.
SECTION D.—HOUSING.
Permanent Schemes.—Six blocks of flats and maisonettes on the Church Street Estate (comprising 89
of the 140 under construction) were ready for occupation at the end of the year. Twenty-nine of the
172 flats under construction on the Barrow Hill Estate were also completed during the year; the
maternity and child welfare centre on this estate will be ready for use early in 1950. Communal
laundry facilities were available at the Church Street Estate at the end of 1949, and similar
accommodation is being provided at the Barrow Hill Estate. The estimated total cost of the Church
Street scheme is £452,260, and the Barrow Hill £510,693.
The demolition of properties on the southern section of the Townshend Cottages site was commenced
and tenders were accepted for building the first block of 70 flats at a cost of approximately £85,9000.
The estate, when completed, will comprise 221 dwellings at an estimated cost of £578,340.
The building of 23 flats at a cost of approximately £41,016 at St. John's Wood Road was commenced
during the year.
The Council made compulsory purchase orders for four further sites, namely :—
Site Estimated
Site No. Area capacity total cost
£
4 35/55, Boundary Road 58 flats 123,560
6 75/77/79, Boundary Road, and 74/76, Abbey Road,
extended to include 70/72, Abbey Road and 2/4
Springfield Road . 55 flats 138,124
14 152/158, Hamilton Terrace and 77/83, Carlton Hill and
land at rear 76 flats 189,500
15a 69/71, Marlborough Place and land in Abbey Gardens at
rear of old St. Mark's Church School 38 flats 112,310