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(b) Flooding.
(i) Wilmer Way/Ashndge Gardens Area.
As the Committee, I am sure, will be aware, flooding of the
houses and gardens of the houses in Wilmer Way and Ashridge
Gardens in the vicinity of Arnos Park and Pymmes Brook occurred
on August Bank Holiday Monday, 6th August. I visited the area
in company with Mr. Gooday on Tuesday, the day following, in
relation to any possible danger to public health. We inspected the
area generally and visited some of the houses. In a number of
instances, we found gardens completely under water, and it was
evident that seepage of water had taken place through the ventilator
gratings to the sub-floor space at a number of the houses. Whilst
it was obvious that conditions for the occupants of the houses were,
to say the least, extremely unpleasant, I was satisfied that there was
no actual danger to public health. It was clear, however, that
spraying with a disinfectant solution was required to obviate
nuisance to the occupants from unpleasant odours as the water
gradually subsided. This was carried out throughout the week.
On a previous occasion, namely the early morning of Monday,
9th July, flooding occurred in this area, and, as on the later
occasion, the area was visited by the public health inspectors and
the necessary action taken to disinfect where necessary.
The soil and surface water drains of the houses are in good
order. Overflow from the surface water drains at the time of both
occurrences was due entirely to the abnormal quantity of water. No
evidence was found on either occasion of actual sewage pollution.
Water from Pymmes Brook, of course, as the Committee will be
aware, contains sewage effluent.
(ii) Park Cottages, High Road, N.11.
On August Bank Holiday Monday, serious flooding occurred
at a number of these cottages. I visited the cottages in company with
Mr. Gooday, and arrangements were made for the disinfection of
houses. The Cleansing Superintendent arranged for removal of
water soaked debris. Two of the houses under requisition by the
Council had suffered the worst of the flooding, and the families,
in one of which there were five young children, were evacuated
temporarily in order that drying out and necessary repairs could be
effected. The occupants of the other privately owned houses dealt
with their own drying-out. The owners' agents were approached
and agreed to carry out necessary repairs to the houses. No evidence
of sewage pollution was found.
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