View report page

Complaints received of smoke nuisances numbered 28, and ninety-two
observations were made on chimneys.
Measurements of air pollution are regularly toicen in the Borough by
means of deposit gauges and lead peroxide instruments which give monthly
records of deposited matter and concentration of sulphur in the air, and
also by combined smoke filters and volumetric sulphur dioxide apparatus
which afford daily readings. Summaries of the recordings obtained from
these instruments during the year will be found in Tables 9 and 10 on
Pages 58 and 59.
Drainage and Sanitary Conveniences.
A landlord appealed against a notice served on him under Section 40
of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, in respect of a defective drain,
the grounds for the Appeal being that the notice required the execution of
works which would be for the common benefit of two premises and that the
owner of the adjoining premises ought to have contributed towards the
expense. When the matter came before the Court, the Appeal was withdrawn as
the two parties had reached an agreement.
Another landlord appealed against a notice served on him under Section
105, Public Health (London) Act, 1936, requiring the provision of proper
and sufficient water closet accommodation at a premises used for both
residential and factory purposes. The grounds for the Appeal were that
the notice was bad inasmuch as there were two water closets in the
premises. The Appeal was dismissed, the Magistrate holding the view that
where premises consist of a dwelling and a factory, the dwelling must have
at least one separate water closet for the exclusive use of the residents.
Byelaws made by the London County Council in 1930 included one which
required the provision of one water closet for every 12 inmates of a
house occupied by members of more than one family. Having regard to the
provisions of Section 11 of the Housing Repairs and Rent Act, 1954,
re-enacted in Section 36 of the Housing Act, 1957, which empowers local
authorities to require the execution of works in, or the reduction of
the number of occupants of, houses-let-in-lodgings, the above-mentioned
London County Council byelaw could no longer apply. In its stead, a
standard has been adopted by this Council, in common with other
Metropolitan Councils, namely, that one water closet for each household
be provided where practicable, and where premises are let in lodgings,
at least one water closet be provided for every 8 persons or for every
4 rooms, whichever standard is the higher.
Factories.
A copy of the annual return furnished to the Ministry of Labour and
National Service will be found in Table 18 on Page 67.
Hairdressers and Barbers.
On the instructions of the Public Health Committee, the occupier
of a hairdresser's establishment was cautioned for carrying on a
business as a hairdresser without registration.
23