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Section 39
A notice was served under this Section on account of the broken
condition of a soil pipe the work of renewal being carried out by the
owner's builder.
In investigating the cause of the repeated blocking of the drainage
systems serving two adjacent houses, it was found that these systems
discharged into a cesspool which in turn discharged into a public sewer
(combined drain). Notices were served upon the two owners whose
contractor reconstructed the drains and connected them to the sewer
by filling in the cesspool and constructing channel way over the filling
material.
Reconstruction to the drainage system to two blocks of property was
carried out by the contractors acting upon the instructions of the
Council through the Public Health Department. The larger involving
nine houses, the other, seven houses. The cost on the first being £1,200,
the second over £700.
The length of sewer serving two other houses was also remade, the
original line of pipes not only being completely obstructed but was
found to be under the flank wall of one of the houses. This necessitated
laying the new pipes in a passage-way between the two houses.
In reporting upon works put out to tender, there are two aspects to
consider and overcome, one is the difficulty experienced in persuading
contractors to tender for work which is either by advertisement in local
and other papers or by communicating with selected firms. In an
endeavour to overcome this difficulty, tender forms have been sent to
known contractors when public advertisements have been made and
here again the response has been very poor.
The second difficulty is in obtaining reasonable priced tenders for
one can but notice the extent to which figures have increased and the
vast difference which is shown between the lowest and highest tender.
Public Health Act, 1961
Section 74—Pigeon Nuisance
Wanstead and Woodford suffer in these days, as do many more local
authorities, from the nuisance caused by feral pigeons who not only
roost and nest on buildings but do considerable damage by fouling
paintwork, choking rainwater gutters, etc.
The 1961 Public Health Act permitted local authorities to reduce the
number of pigeons in their area so in order to continue the work commenced
in 1962 the Council re-engaged the contractor used previously.
Pigeon populations at The Broadway and George Lane were reduced
very considerably, that at The Broadway reduced almost to nothing.
It would appear that it is necessary to continue the contract from year
to year to keep these pests in check, because in addition to the groups
of birds at the areas already referred to small pockets of infestation
have sprung up in other parts of the Borough.
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