View report page

River Pollution
The increasing urbanisation of the County of Middlesex and the
growing numbers of factory buildings situated on or near the River
Brent has given rise to serious doubts concerning the purity of the
water of the river. As a portion of the river flows through
Brentford it was important to us that any Public Health risks should
be minimised in our area, and Medical Officers of Health of other
districts bordering on the stream felt the same about their own
areas.
As a result, a meeting between the Officers of the Middlesex
County Council, which is the authority for Rivers Inspection,, and
the Borough Engineers and Medical Officers of Health of the various
districts concerned was held at the latter end of 1952, and the whole
matter was discussed thoroughly. Following this it was arranged
that monthly reports would be submitted to the Borough Engineers
and Medical Officers of Health of the appropriate authorities
containing the results of analyses of the river water samples drawn
from various points along its courses, and these have been submitted
regularly ever since. Results have fluctuated from good to doubtful,
and whenever doubtful results were obtained, the Officers of
the local authority concerned communicated with the Middlesex
County Council Officers and an endeavour was made to pinpoint the
source or sources of any offending matter being allowed to enter
into the stream.
As a result of this, much good work has been done in the
reducing of pollution, a matter of most particular concern in
Brentford and Chiswick at the terminal and therefore the receiving
end of the river.
Street Trading
Certain prescribed areas in the district are allocated for
street trading purposes, and are frequently visited to ensure that
they are being maintained in good condition and in accordance with
the Bye-laws.
Visits were also paid to the premises of street hawkers who
deal in food stuffs.
Canal Boats
Number of Boats on Register:-
Motor Propelled Boats 94
Other Boats 407
- 64 -