London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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St Giles (Camberwell) 1858

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Camberwell, St. Giles]

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15
mean the incessant openings for gas and water trenches—
the daily occurrence of these Highway disturbances, causes
much anxiety and annoyance to those in charge of the repairs
of the public Thoroughfares, and although I by no
means state this as a reproach upon the Gas and Water
Companies (at least as far as this parish is concerned)
from whom I receive every courtesy and attention to
my directions, I think it only due to myself to refer to the
fact, to satisfy you that it is wholly impossible in a District,
where gas and water are now generally becoming
requisites of daily life, but that these changes in
our social system should produce their corresponding
annoyances and injury to the Roads, which without such
interruptions would not so often exhibit the broken up appearance
they frequently present, and which without having
the cause explained, might be attributed to the negligence
of the officers who have them in charge.
NEW ROADS.
The only additional Road brought under the charge of New Roads,
and Street.
the Vestry during the past year is Nelson street, Wyndham
road, a length of 600 feet. This Road which up to the
time of the Vestry taking it in hand, was a foul swamp
raised high above the level of the ground floors of the
houses by the refuse therefrom has been reformed and
kirbed throughout and, I trust, that this Street will by its
altered condition operate as an inducement to the owners of
similar Roads in other equally neglected localities, to put
themselves by their contributions under the local authority
until the time arrives, as I anticipated iu my last report,