View report page

22
It is gratifying to note the interest shown by the public in the methods adopted for the collection
and disposal of house refuse, but there are yet many who do not recognise that the manner in which
refuse is stored at the dwelling is as important as an efficient collection service.
Controlled Tipping on land within the Borough continues to be a satisfactory method of
disposal of over half the refuse collected, while, for the present, the remainder is barged away to another
district.
Drainage and Sewerage.—No large sewerage or drainage schemes have been undertaken
during the past year by the Council with the exception of the Church End Housing Scheme. The
major portion of the sewerage and surface water drainage of the rapidly developing Twyford area,
recently added to the Borough, has been constructed by the Estate Developers. It is proposed to
connect this drainage system to the West Middlesex Main Sewer as soon as this is available.
Plans have been prepared for the culverting of a portion of the Mitchell Brook at Bridge Road
and Brentfield Road, and this has now been commenced.
Swimming Baths and Pools.—The Council now possess three open air swimming pools, all
well patronised during the Season. The last to be constructed—Craven Park Bath—was opened to
the public in June, 1934.
The water in each pool is kept clean by continuous filtration through pressure filters and
sterilised by means of Chlorine injectors. Bacteriological tests of the water from each pool are made
weekly by the Health Department, so that the condition of the water from week to week is known.
Vermin.—(1) Dwellers in Clearance Areas and in Overcrowded houses to be moved into new
houses erected by the Council.
During the year the Council formulated a scheme on the following lines to ensure that tenants
and their furniture entered the new houses as clean and as free from insect pests as possible.
(а) Bedding to be steam disinfected.
(b) All furniture and other effects to be disinfested by hydrocyanic acid gas in accordance
with an agreement entered into with the Kensington Borough Council.
(c) Two flats, when erected, to be set aside temporarily for the purpose of providing
waiting accommodation whilst furniture is being treated with HCN, the tenants
to be provided with a sum which will enable them to obtain food at places of
refreshment in the neighbourhood during this period.
(2) Second-hand furniture.—The Council passed a resolution that any second-hand furniture
bought by any of the tenants of Council Properties should be submitted for disinfestation before
delivery to the tenant.
(3) Disinfestation of privately owned houses.—It was decided to institute for an experimental
period of three months a scheme whereby the Council worked in co-operation with the owners—a
temporary disinfector to be appointed and the Council to undertake the work of disinfestation of rooms
and furniture in situ at a charge of five shillings per room. In very bad cases the furniture was to
be removed to Kensington for disinfestation by HCN under the agreement with that Authority, and
the rooms were to be disinfested while empty. All bedding was to be removed to the Municipal
Hospital for steam disinfestation. It was also agreed by the Council to pay tenants reasonable outof-pocket
expenses for the period during which they may be compelled to vacate their premises.
Sanitary Inspection of the Area.
Tabular summary of the work of the Sanitary Department during the year and action taken under
the Public Health Acts, Housing Acts, etc.
Inspections:
Number of premises inspected on complaint 2,168
Number of premises inspected in connection with infectious diseases 52
Number of periodical inspections of premises 4,491
Houses inspected from House to House (Housing Acts) 1,249
For Certificates or Reports under the Rent Acts 13
Public House Urinals 324
Mews and Stables 446
Miscellaneous 75
Total number of inspections and re-inspections made 27,449
Smoke Observations 122
Action under Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restriction) Acts, 1920-1933.
Number of applications received for Certificates 10
Number of Certificates granted 8
Number of Certificates refused 2
Number of applications withdrawn —
Number of applications for Reports 3
Number of Reports granted 3