View report page

through with great skill and resource by the contractors under the
direction and supervision of the Borough Engineer and his staff, and
not a single complaint of a public health nature was received, (except
in respect of noise), nor was any smell or other nuisance noted at any
time although operations continued through the summer. On the
question of noise many comments were heard about the activities of
the pile driving machinery, but no official complaint was received. As
with the practice of burning off old road surfaces, which creates dense
clouds of smoke for short periods, pile driving creates a noise nuisance
for a limited period. It appears that, provided members of the public
can see what is happening and can assess for themselves the likely
short duration of the nuisance, they are prepared to tolerate such an
interference with their normal comfort especially when it is realised
that improved technique for quietening the operation are likely to
increase the cost of the operation to public funds, without materially
affecting the efficiency or speed of completion of the job.
Another large scale reconditioning scheme involving sewage
brought forth many complaints. This was the reconstruction of the
sludge digestion tanks at the Richmond Main Sewerage Works, made
necessary as a result of the structural failure of the tanks. The proper
funtioning of the plant was seriously interfered with and emergency
measures were taken to deal with the problem of drying the sludge in
open lagoons. All possible practical steps were taken to minimise the
nuisance, but these failed to prevent objectionable smells, causing
acute distress to residents, particularly those living in the Hartington
Road area of Chiswick, due to the fact that they were in the path
of the prevailing wind.
Constructional work has proceeded as rapidly as possible and the
new tanks are now well established, although at the close of the year
there was still some nuisance from effluvia. Experience in other areas
shows that, however well designed and conducted, a sewage disposal
plant should be in as isolated a position as possible. It is regrettable
that new occupiers of property in the vicinity cannot be warned in
advance that they are moving to an area where a certain amount of
nuisance is almost inevitable.
VERMINOUS PREMISES ETC.
Rodent Control.
Complaints of rats and mice continued at a satisfactory low level
and no major infestations were met with. Infestation in the sewers is
now confined to one small area where the sewer system connects with
Richmond. This is a small pocket of residual infestation, on a minor
scale, and no undue difficulty is expected in dealing with it by means
of routine treatments.
Other Pests.
The destruction of wasps nests again predominated in the treatment
of pests other than rodents. There was a slight increase in the
11