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Sanitary Notices. Legal Proceedings.
During 1955 it was not found necessary to institute legal proceedings in order
to obtain compliance with notices served under the Public Health (London) Act,
1936, and other relevant Acts, Regulations and Bye-laws.
Water Supply.
The Borough is provided with a domestic water supply entirely by the Metropolitan
Water Board, and samples of the water are regularly subjected to chemical
and bacteriological examination by the Board at its laboratories. The condition
of the water supply during the year was satisfactory both in quality and quantity.
No complaint was received as to the quality of the water.
Local industries are also supplied by the Metropolitan Water Board, and in
addition supplies are taken from wells. Of the eleven wells known to exist in the
Borough, seven are at present in use. The water from these wells is used for
industrial purposes and fire-fighting. The Council's Baths at Woolwich and
Plumstead each draw supplies from a well.
Of the remainder, three in North Woolwich have been sealed off and one in
Elthain has been replaced by a supply from the Metropolitan Water Board.
Samples of the water were taken from the wells in use for bacteriological
examination. The results showed the water to be satisfactory.
Drainage.
A total of 504 drainage defects were discovered during the year, and the Sanitary
Inspectors supervised the necessary works of repair and reconstruction.
Officers of the Department supervised 43 smoke tests on suspected defective
private and combined drains, and 19 of these produced positive results ; 19 of the
drains tested proved to be sound, and a further five tests which also produced
positive results, were in respect of old disused drains which when exposed were
permanently sealed off.
A total of 131 combined drains were inspected and of these three were found
to be defective. In these three cases, after the service of notices under Section
40 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, the work of repair and reconstruction
was carried out by the Borough Engineer's Department, the cost being apportioned
among the responsible owners.
Common Lodging Houses.
During the last ten years there have been only two licensed Common Lodging
Houses in the Borough, and at the end of 1954 the Common Lodging House at
60, Beresford Street, with accommodation for 60 men, was closed as a result of the
Council's action in declaring the premises part of the Ropeyard Rails Clearance Area.
There is now only one licensed Common Lodging House, that at 102 Woolwich
High Street, which has accommodation for 22 men. During the year the Council
renewed this licence following the carrying out of extensive works to make the
premises fit for use for this purpose.
Dustbins.
The Sanitary Inspectors, in the course of routine inspections or as a result of
complaints received from tenants, ascertained during the year that new dustbins
were required at 109 premises.
New dustbins were provided by the owners as a result of informal or formal
action by the Department under the provisions of Section 12 of the London County
Council (General Powers) Act, 1954.
No appeal to the local Magistrates' Court against the Council's action was
made by an owner during the year.
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