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12
During 1960, the Metropolitan Water Board notified the department of seven instances where
water had been cut off from premises ; one due to waste of water and the other six for non-payment
of rates. The supply was restored without service of a notice in these latter cases but in the other it
was necessary to serve notice on the owner of the premises before repairs were carried out to enable
the water to be reinstated.
Four certificates relating to the provision of a proper and sufficient supply of water in dwelling
houses were issued under the provisions of Section 95 (2) of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936.
Drainage—Alterations and New Buildings.
Of the 262 drainage plans approved during the year, 38 were in respect of new buildings.
Upon request, the Borough Engineer examined 17 sewer connections and 9 of them were found
to be defective and had to be renewed.
The two drainage inspectors made 3,354 visits and no circumstances were found which necessitated
legal proceedings.
Combined Drainage.
Seven orders under seal were issued in respect of combined drainage operations.
Sewerage.
The Borough Council's sewers are controlled and maintained by the Borough Engineer and discharge
into the London County Council's main drainage system. The disposal of sewage is the responsibility
of the London County Council and there are no disposal plants in the Borough.
Although sewerage in the Borough is generally satisfactory, exceptionally heavy rainfall has from
time to time caused the King's Scholars' Pond sewer to become surcharged, with consequent flooding
of the basements of some business premises at a point immediately north of Oxford Street where a
sharp change of direction occurs. During the year the County Council diverted this sewer through
Wellington Place and St. John's Wood High Street and whilst the work was in progress complaints
were received of stench from the open sewer. At the request of this department the Contractors
provided some temporary shielding which reduced nuisance. The road level ventilators introduced
on this new sewer line have caused renewed local complaint and the emanations are undoubtedly
from the County Council middle level sewer which has long been a source of nuisance. As far back as
1955 discussions were held with the County Council regarding the provision of adequate high-level
ventilation but so far no material progress has been made.
Town Planning.
Observations were made on 151 plans submitted to the Council under the Town and Country
Planning Act, 1947, and referred to the Department.
Rodent Control.
There were 211 notifications of rats at premises in the Borough, a reduction of 61 on the previous
year's figure. Notifications of mice however showed an increase of 96 over last year's figure of 264.
Statistics of the monthly notifications indicate a higher average from June till October. There is no
specific reason for this other than perhaps the influence of a wet summer and autumn.
Block surveys have been continued and the system has been altered to give greater coverage, which
involved 1,757 premises with the discovery of 23 un-notified infestations, as compared with 1,091
premises and 12 infestations last year.
Sewer treatment began in May, when all suitable manholes and side-entrances were baited. A
follow-up treatment, consisting of re-laying baits at side entrances only, was carried out about every
six weeks. " Takes " were consistently recorded at these points, showing that colonies and individual
migrant rats were being poisoned more or less continuously, resulting in the residual number of rats
in the sewers being kept at a low level. The use of the polythene bag system, introduced last year,
was continued and proved a satisfactory method of depositing bait.
Statistics of rodent control are shown on Table 13, page 35.