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exceeds four. If the number is four, or less than four, one sanitary convenience
will be regarded as suitable and sufficient provided that the door of such convenience
is fixed with an appropriate lock or fastener on the internal side and with
an automatic indicator showing on the external side of the door whether the
apartment is engaged or vacant.
The number of Exemption Certificates issued in cases of shops where, owing
to restricted accommodation or other special circumstances, a sanitary convenience
could not be provided on the premises, was 14. In every case the alternative
accommodation has been within 100 yards of the shop. Heating has been insisted
upon in all closed shops, but the problem of heating wet fish, butchers and openfronted
shops has not been solved. In the case of all closed shops means of
ventilation other than the shop door has been insisted upon, and this has been
met in the majority of cases by a movable fanlight over the door.
The number of shops inspected during the year was 1,594, and 67 notices for
offences under the Act were served. Sanitary accommodation was made suitable
and sufficient in 34 cases, and suitable means of heating was provided in 14 cases.
Smoke Abatement.—During the year 37 smoke observations were made on
factory chimneys in the Borough. In 5 cases offences were committed and notices
were served. In each case the nuisance was abated forthwith and no further action
was taken.
Public Baths and Washhouses.—There are three bathing establishments in
the Borough, one at Plumstead, one at Woolwich, and a small one at North Woolwich.
At Plumstead there is a First Class Swimming Bath (capacity 120,000 gallons);
a Second Class Swimming Bath (capacity 80,000 gallons) ; 64 Slipper Baths, and
a separate building for Turkish and Russian Vapour Baths. There is also a Public
Washhouse. At Woolwich there is a First Class Swimming Bath (capacity 120,000
gallons) ; a Second Class Swimming Bath (capacity 90,000 gallons); and 60
Slipper Baths. At North Woolwich there are 22 Slipper Baths.
Proposals for the establishment of swimming baths at Eltham were approved
by the Council during the year. An inquiry was held by the Minister of Health
on the 9th October, 1936, and the matter was still under consideration at the end
of the year.
Through the courtesy of the Baths Superintendent I am able to say that the
total number using the Swimming Baths during the year was 260,361 ; Turkish
and Russian Vapour Baths, 12,339 ; Slipper Baths, 187,650 ; and the Public
Washhouse, 16,095.
Filtration plants have been installed at the Woolwich and Plumstead Baths,
and the chemical and bacteriological content of the water is regularly examined
by members of the Baths staff. There are two open-air swimming pools in the