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THE TRANSPORT OF REFUSE BY LIGHTERS
Regular inspections of all lighters employed in this trade and routine visits to the loading
wharves were maintained during the year.
Early in the year one of the loading wharves was closed down by the Greater London Council,
leaving a total of seven, together with two enclosed loading docks still in operation at the end
of the year.
Further work on the modernisation of one of the loading wharves continued during the year.
The construction of the new refuse transfer station at Cringle Street, Battersea, commenced in
the early part of the year.
Spillage of refuse into the river still remains a problem, although with the gradual closure of
the older wharves in the last few years, the amount of spillage has diminished.
Proceedings were instituted against one of the refuse lighter companies on one occasion
during the year, for contravention of the Authority's Refuse Byelaws.
HOUSEBOATS
The old houseboat moorings at Benfleet Creek (West), which have supported a houseboat
population for many years, were totally cleared of craft during the year. Benfleet Urban District
Council's refuse tip now occupies the site originally used.
One unauthorised mooring of a houseboat at Ferry Road referred to in last year's report,
can be discounted as the craft is no longer used by its owner for sleeping, but only during the
day as a workshop.
An application was received from Canvey Island Urban District Council .requesting our
assent to a "consent to moor" the Benfleet Yacht Club clubhouse boat in Benfleet Creek East,
following its reconstruction.
The craft was inspected early in November and consent was agreed for the period ending
31st December, 1971.
Upper River Areas.
There are 133 houseboats moored in the Upper Reaches of the River between London Bridge
and Teddington. This is a decrease of nine on the previous year.
DANGEROUS DRUGS
During the year eleven certificates authorising the purchase of scheduled Dangerous Drugs
were issued under the Dangerous Drugs (No. 2) Regulations, 1964, Regulation 13 (2) of which is
as follows
(a) The master of a foreign ship which is in a port in Great Britain shall be authorised to
procure such quantity of drugs and preparations as may be certified by the medical officer of
health of the port health authority within whose jurisidiction the ship is or, in his absence by
the assistant medical officer of health, to be necessary for the equipment of the ship until it
reaches its home port.
(b) A person who supplies a drug or preparation in accordance with a certificate given under
this paragraph shall retain the certificate and mark it with the date on which the drug or preparation
was supplied and keep it on his premises so as to be at all times available for inspection.
THE FOOD HYGIENE (GENERAL) REGULATIONS 1960/62
The Board of Trade survey of the River Thames passenger carrying launches is carried out
during the early part of the year. The renewal of fittings, together with all necessary repairs,
cleaning and repainting is attended to at the same time. The fresh water storage tanks are also
cleaned and together with the distribution system, chlorinated prior to use.
There are now operating within the Authority's district, seven floating restaurants and
thirty-one launches, to which these Regulations apply, Regular inspections of all these were
carried out during the year. The high standard of food hygiene on these craft has been maintained.
54 water samples were drawn from the launches and their watering points during the year.
Adverse results were obtained on 11 occasions. In each case the sources of contamination
was traced and eliminated.
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