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40
Legislation
The Public Health Act, 1961 amended the law about certain aspects
of drainage :
s.16 Examination and testing of drains.
s.17 Summary power to remedy stopped-up drain.
s.18 Power to repair drains and private sewers.
s.19 Disconnection of drains.
s.20 Fine for improper construction and repair of water closets.
s.21 Closet accommodation for separate dwellings.
s.22 Power to cleanse or repair drains.
s.23 Loan of temporary sanitary conveniences.
The principle effect of the Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) Act, 1961
which came into operation in September, is to require the River Board's
consent for all discharges existing before the commencement of the 1951
Act as is already required under that Act for discharges which have begun
since then.
Drainage
The Wealdstone sewage system had become seriously overloaded.
The first step to relieve this was the construction of a sewer for the
Cullington Close development. The next stage was the construction of a
sewer from the head of the existing sewer in the allotments at the Council's
Elmgrove Road Depot, along the eastern end of Masons Avenue, Byron
Road, Oxford Road and Palmerston Road, then from the High Street
along Headstone Drive to Harrow View. All flow from Harrow View
north of Headstone Drive, including some of the effluent from the Kodak
Works, would go to the new sewer. The existing sewer at Headstone Drive
would continue to serve domestic properties and discharge into the relief
sewer at the High Street. In 1957 the Minister of Housing and Local
Government was prepared to consider a scheme for this new relief sewer.
This work was completed in the summer. This should result in some
houses which periodically had suffered from sewage backing on to their
gardens being no longer subjected to this nuisance.
Most of the work on phase II of the Pinner relief soil sewer had been
completed by the end of the year.
The construction of a relief culvert in Hillside Road and Hillview
Close to relieve flooding in the Hatch End Broadway was agreed on.
Pollution of water courses.
In July 1960 complaints were received about the pollution which was
noticed in the half-mile of the open section of the Wealdstone Brook in
Kenton. This water-course rises in Harrow Weald. It receives the surface
water drainage from a large area in the Borough. It is liable to pollution