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Council in regard thereto, including visits to premises by representatives of
the Surveyor or Medical Officer of Health or both. Further, visits had been
made by the Chairman of the Council and the Chairmen of the Highways
and Cleansing and Public Health Committees to certain affected properties
and areas. Also that, resulting from the approach by the Chairman of the
Council to the Local Food and Fuel Offices, satisfactory assurances had
been received that all legitimate steps would be taken to help the unfortunate
sufferers."
The following is an extract from a report submitted to the Public
Health Committee at their meeting on 9th September, 1952: —
"At times of heavy rain, the surface water sewers in a number of parts
of the district are liable to be surcharged, some parts being especially vulnerable.
Although some years ago at such times, complaints about sewerage
pollution were not uncommon, more recently these have been fewer.
"The phenomenal rainfall in this district on the evening of 6th August
overloaded the surface water sewers causing in parts flooding of premises and
gardens. The especial concern of this department was the extent to which the
contents of the foul sewers might have found their way to premises and on
land. Complaints were received from residents of certain parts of the district.
All these were followed up and visits were paid to the vulnerable areas, even
if no complaints had been received from them.
"Where contamination with solid matter had taken place, arrangements
were made for the removal and cleansing.
"In some houses, furnishing and bedding had been soiled. Some households
were helped by these being dried and sometimes disinfected, free of
charge, at the Council's disinfecting plant.
"Although many households were subjected to extreme inconvenience
from which some are still suffering, it is not felt that there was at the time,
any risk of the spread of infection among those in the affected areas: nor
any since."
The following is a copy of an extract from the report of the Highways
and Cleansing Committee of 31st December: —
"The Surveyor reported that, by resolution 1976 (27th July, 1939) the
Council decided to apply to the Ministry of Health for approval to a scheme
for relieving the the sewers in the Pinner area, but, in view of the outbreak
of war, no subsequent action was taken; that the scheme had been examined
in the light of development since 1939 and was now submitted for consideration;
that the work involved the construction of a new relief sewer which
would intercept the existing sewers at various points and convey to the
Middlesex Main Drainage Sewer near Cannon Lane; that the sewers comprising
the present system were laid many years ago and were inadequate to deal
with the discharge from the area affected, with the result that flooding and
surcharging of sewers occurred during times of rain; that the total length of
the proposed new sewer would be 3,635 yards, with 44 manholes; and that
the pipe sizes proposed are 27 in., 33 in. 39 in. and 42 in. diameter. Further,
that the new sewer would start at Barrow Point Avenue and proceed along
Avenue Road (27 in. dia.) to Love Lane, where the diameter would be
increased to 33 in.; that the route would continue along Love Lane, Bridge
Street, Marsh Road and Eastcote Road to the junction with Whittington
Way, where the pipe would increase in size to 39 in., and would continue at
this size along Cannon Lane to the junction with Village Way, at which point
it would increase to 42 in. diameter, continuing to the junction with the
Middlesex Main Drainage manhole. The Surveyor also reported that, owing