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method known to engineers apart from the method of gas washing,
which some experts consider not to be very satisfactory.
In reply to a further question the Minister agreed that in dense
fogs of several days duration the gases would descend in the neighbourhood,
but he said that with fogs of short duration and limited height,
this would not be so.
FLOOD DAMAGE.
The disastrous flood which caused serious damage and loss of
life in the Eastern Counties affected two small areas in Barking, at
Creekmouth and West Bank. The water entered into 65 houses and
whilst none of these were rendered uninhabitable there was considerable
damage to furniture and household effects. In many of the houses
the floor covering was ruined or extensively damaged.
The removal of this covering revealed defects in the floors of a
large number of premises, some of which were the result of normal
decay. These were renewed after service of sanitary notices. In order
to dry out the houses a free issue of 5-cwts. of coal was made to each
householder.
One of the worst features of the flood was the deposition of silt
in the areas covered by water. To assist in cleansing the ground a
supply of lime was issued for use in the gardens and sub-floor areas.
Financial grants from the Lord Mayor of London's Fund were
made to those whose household effects had been damaged, and in
order to restore decoration.
SWIMMING BATHS AND POOL.
East Street Bath.—The season opened on 25th April and closed
on 27th September, 1953, a period of 22 weeks.
During this period the bath was used by 63,441 bathers, including
37,738 children.
The slipper-baths were once more well patronised. During the
year they were used by residents on 42,614 occasions.
Swimming Pool—Barking Park.—Owing to the inclemency of
the weather the season in the early part showed poor results in numbers
of bathers. There was an improvement during August and September.
The total number of bathers was 78,828. Of this number 54,722 were
children.
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