View report page

41
It is also a matter of common knowledge, that during the hot
months of the year, when the flow of the river is at its lowest, the
water is at times very offensive, especially in the shallow branches
of the river to persons walking near the banks.
During the month of April of last year, a letter, of which the
following is a copy, was received by the Vestry:—
London County Council,
Parks and Open Spaces Sub-Department, Spring Gardens,
S.W.,
24th April, 1895.
To the Parks, Ac., N.E. District Sub-Committee.
Hackney Marsh.
I have to report that I have noticed frequently that the effluent
water which is discharged into the River Lea, at a point close to
the bathing pool, and which flows, I believe, from the Walthamstow
Sewage Farm, is of an offensive character, the smell being very
objectionable at times. As it is clearly most objectionable that this
state of things should exist in connection with a recreation ground
and bathing place, I would suggest that the matter be referred to
the Vestry of Hackney, who have, I believe, a power of taking
action in such matters.
(Signed) JNO. J. SEXBY, Chief Officer.
The Sanitary Committee, in reporting to the Vestry on this
letter, recapitulated what had been done by the late District Board
of Works, and subsequently by the Vestry, to cause an abatement
of this nuisance, and further stated—
Your Committee are advised that the Hackney Sanitary Authority
have not the jurisdiction to take proceedings against the offending
district such as that conferred upon the Lea Conservancy Board by
the Rivers Pollution Act, 1876., Sec. 9, which provides:—
"The Conservancy Board constituted under the Lea Conservancy
Act, 1868, shall, within the area of their jurisdiction, have, to the
exclusion of any other sanitary authority, the powers for enforcing
the provisions of this Act, which sanitary authorities have under
this Act.''