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11. NOISE NUISANCES.
During the year our attention has been called to nuisances and discomfort
arising from the scream of circular saws, the grind of a cyclone used in a sawmill,
electric hum from machinery and similar noises.
Whilst your officers have been able to secure reduction in the noises of which
complaint has been made, the provisions of the Barking Corporation Act are
intended to deal only with avoidable noise and do not give the Council power to
prohibit the use of the offending plant.
The defence available to the factory owners under the above Act may not be a
good defence at common law, and therefore in some cases the injured party would
have a remedy in the civil courts.
12. SWIMMING BATHS.
There are no privately owned swimming baths or pools in the district.
In my Report for the year 1935, I described fully the Corporation swimming
baths and pool, and made certain observations.
Swimming Pool.—During the year there were no structural or plant alterations
at the pool affecting the condition of the bath water, but the bathing amenities
were further improved.
The Baths Superintendent has commented upon the reduction of the hours
of sunshine in 1936 as compared with 1935, and referred also to the fall in the
number of bathers at the Pool.
I am anxious to see greater use of the Swimming Pool and would support
any recommendation for heating the water here.
I am advised that the sun-bathing area laid down in 1935 proved the most
popular addition to the Pool amenities during the year under review.
Swimming Baths.—There were two pre-cleansing rooms added to the amenities,
and these were found helpful in ensuring satisfactory conditions of bath water.
Examination of Bath Water.—The samples of water submitted for examination
from the Pool and Baths were found safe and suitable for swimming purposes.
There still appears some difficulty, however, in keeping a correct chlorine dosage.