View report page

16
Unfortunately certain parts of the district even where development
is still taking place are not served by a main sewer. The disadvantage
of cesspools is clearly that their use must be related to their capacity
and that even when this is done they require regular and relatively
frequent emptying at no mean cost and with a certain inevitable smell
during the process of emptying. The situation when overflowing takes
place, i.e. through over-usage need not of course be pursued here in
detail. It is additionally a most difficult matter to site the cesspools in
any one area in such a way as to avoid offence to houses appearing subsequent
to the cesspools. The trouble really is that cesspools can usually
only be planned on a very local basis instead of on a general basis as
might be possible if a large area was being developed at one time by
one developer.
Clearly the district generally would benefit by the provision of roads
and sewers in the Parsonage Estate area of Rainham and it must be
conceded that a substantial amount of the area lying off the Upminster
Road, Rainham, is not particularly attractive. This, however, should
not be viewed mistakenly as meaning that the Council, for example, has
failed to take any ready means of providing amenities such as roads and
sewers. It simply means that under the existing circumstances viewed
as part of the district administration as a whole and in the light of any
necessary government restrictions, it has not been found possible to
provide that measure of amenity which not only the residents but also
the Council would wish to see achieved.
River Pollution.
A close watch continues to be kept upon the condition of our local
streams and the co-operation of the Essex River Board has ensured a
mutual exchange of information which enables the scene to be viewed
comprehensively instead of as could so easily happen parochially.
Quite an amount of time and space has been devoted to the River
Ingrebourne in past reports—both Committee and Annual—and it is not
proposed to dwell upon the matter in any great detail on this occasion.
Suffice it to say that periodic sampling of this watercourse at various
points in its passage, suggests that the necessity for a comprehensive
regional drainage scheme has lost none of its urgency.
Swimming Bath.
The Hornchurch Swimming Pool, sited in Harrow Lodge Park, off
the main Hornchurch Road, was officially opened by the Chairman of the
Council, Councillor Mrs. E. G. Richardson, J.P., on 8th December, 1956.
The Pool is 110ft. long and 42ft. wide, has a depth of 3ft. at the
shallow end and a maximum depth of 12ft. 6ins. under the diving stage.
It is equipped with 3 and 5 metres fixed diving stages and 1 and 3
metres spring boards.
The filtration plant is capable of working on break-point chlorination
and comprises six vertical air-scoured filters, chemical tanks and pump
and vacuum chlorinator.
The Pool surround and dressing rooms are finished with non-slip
tiles.