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Drainage.—The number of plans approved was 312, of which 12 related to new buildings, including
a Borough Council housing scheme of four blocks comprising 121 flats. At the request of the Medical
Officer of Health the drains and/or sewer connections of 21 premises were examined by the staff of
the Borough Engineer's Department. In 11 cases defects were discovered which called for remedy;
in the remaining 10 instances the sewer connections were found to be serviceable and fit for continued
use. The drainage inspectors made a total of 3,617 visits.
Combined Drainage.—Three orders under seal for combined drainage were issued.
Building Licences.—During the year 180 applications for building licences were referred to the
Department by the Borough Engineer for observations in relation to proposals concerning drainage,
ventilation and underground rooms, and also in cases where work had been called for by sanitary
notices.
Public Conveniences.—The usual supervision was exercised over the 15 public sanitary conveniences
(11 for men, 4 for women). The free washing facilities, with paper towels and liquid soap, brought into
operation in all conveniences in the Borough in May, 1949, to encourage personal hygiene and prevent
the spread of disease, still proved to be extremely popular and the public took full advantage of them.
On the occasion of the funeral of His Late Majesty King George VI the Council provided temporary
conveniences for the use of the public viewing the procession as it passed along Edgware Road. The
accommodation, which was set up by a contractor on a site normally used as a car park in Great
Cumberland Place, Marble Arch, comprised a series of cubicles containing 12 chemical closets for men
and 12 for women, the whole contained in a frame tent surrounded by canvas screening. Washing
facilities, with paper towels, tablet soap and hot water, were also available. The temporary conveniences
were open from 0 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. on the day of the funeral (Friday, the 15th February, 1952) and
no charge was made for their use.
Towards the end of the year preliminary arrangements were in hand for similar provision, on a
larger scale, to be made available to the public on the occasion of the Coronation of Her Majesty
Queen Elizabeth II on the 2nd June, 1953, when part of the processional route will be along Oxford
Street, which forms the southern boundary of the Borough. In this connection the Medical Officer
of Health attended two conferences called by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to discuss
the question of adequate sanitary accommodation throughout the whole line of the procession and
to secure co-ordination of all proposals. At these meetings representatives of the Police, Ministry of
Works, War Office and Westminster City Council were also present. It was decided, among other
things, that the temporary conveniences should remain open for a minimum of three days, to be
extended, if justified by circumstances, to a maximum of seven days.
Preliminary work in connection with the construction of new public conveniences on the Wellington
Place frontage of the St. John's Wood Burial Ground was commenced towards the close of the year,
and negotiations were in hand for the erection of new conveniences in Paddington Street. On both
sites accommodation will be provided for men and for women.
Public Cleansing and Salvage.—The Director of Public Cleansing has kindly provided the following
information on these services.
The materials dealt with in 1952 were: house and trade refuse, 35,373 tons; street sweepings and
gully slop, 2,865 tons; salvaged materials (including kitchen waste) 2,037 tons. The sum of £12,500
was obtained from the sale of salvaged materials. In addition, £715 was received for the removal of
trade refuse and green offal and for the cleansing of petrol interceptors.
During the year delivery was taken of twelve mechanically-driven four-wheeled tractors, complete
with barrier loading articulated trailers, for the collection of salvage and refuse, and of two "Paladin"
portable refuse container collection vehicles.
Shops.—Inspections under the Shops Acts numbered 155. In four instances service of notice for the
provision of adequate sanitary accommodation was necessary.
Pet Shops.—The Pet Animals Act, 1951, which came into force on the 1st April, 1952, provides for a
system of inspection and licensing annually of pet shops by local authorities. During the year seven
licences were issued, the prescribed fee of 10s. having been paid in each case.
Barbers' Shops.—The Metropolitan Boroughs' Standing Joint Committee asked for the Council's
views on a proposal that legislation should be sought enabling borough councils to register and control
barbers' and hairdressers' shops, and to make bye-laws to secure cleanliness of the premises, of the
instruments, materials and equipment used therein and of the persons employed in the business. In
order to obtain up-to-date information on conditions prevailing in hairdressing establishments in the
Borough a special survey was carried out with the following result:—