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42
HOUSING (contd.)
It is encouraging to note that steps are being taken by the London
County Council in preparing legislation to deal with the problem of derelict
sites, the result of which will remain to be seen.
During the year
22 complaints of nuisances on derelict sites were received.
2 Notices were served on owners in respect of these.
394 Inspections and re-inspections of derelict sites were made.
Fortunately, as redevelopment progresses, derelict sites are diminishing,
but it is the many small derelict sites not readily suitable for redevelopment
which would appear to present problems for some time to come, but with the
prospect of suitable legislation, one is encouraged that one day we may be
able to tackle this vexed problem.
New plumbing and drainage works :
In five years revolutionary changes have been made in drainage design
on Local Authority flats and privately owned factories. The single stack
system of drainage has proved to be highly efficient with a great saving of
installation and maintenance costs.
Since the Chief Public Health Inspector introduced the 3 foot long
radius bend at the foot of the soil stacks, together with a 'safety' relief
gulley, the Building Research Station has issued a recommendation on
similar lines.
The number of inspection chambers in drainage systems in Shoreditch
has been greatly reduced without any loss of efficiency. This policy has
since been recommended by the Building Research Station.
Investigations made over the past five years have revealed remarkably
few stoppages in soil and waste stacks and that the traditional provision
of access junctions in the stacks are considered to be unnecessary. It is
therefore proposed no longer to provide access junctions or 'safety' relief
gulleys in the single stack systems of drainage and this will further
reduce installation costs.