View report page

46
The London County Council has gone to great expense to make
the Hackney Marsh a worthy open space for the East End resident.
The period when such places are resorted to mostly is during the
summer months. This is the time when the river is the greatest
nuisance. Both appearance and smell of the water remind one of
an open sewer. This can scarcely fail to repel visitors to the
Marsh. I have no hesitation in saying that it is distinctly dangerous
to the health of those who may be exposed to its effluvia.
For many years it has been the custom for young people to
bathe in different parts of the shallow loops of the river during the
summer months.
On the 4th of March, 1896, a letter was received from Mr
Sexby, the chief officer to the Parks Department of the London
County Council, stating amongst other things that the Council had
enlarged a part of the river Lea and constructed two dams at this
point, forming a pool, the river water being excluded and the pool
being filled by percolating subsoil water only. The letter then goes
on: "As bathing will shortly commence, I write to inform you
what the Council propose to do at this place. It is suggested to
make a convenient bridge across the island to the bathing pool, and
to erect a rough and inexpensive shelter where bathers can undress
&c."
"I understand, however, you raised some point as to the water
supply and as to the propriety of bathing at all in Lea water. I
think it right therefore to acquaint you with the fact that the
Council do not propose to lay on a pure water supply, but that the
pool has been enlarged on the assumption that the bathing which
has been allowed for so many years would still be permitted. Of
course the conditions would be considerably improved, not merely
as regards provision against danger from drowning, but also as
regards the purity of the water. The only times when Lea water
will be admitted are in flood time, and, if necessary, occasionally at
high tides should it become desirable to introduce fresh water into
the pool, but as a rule the percolation of subsoil water will be
sufficient to keep the pool well supplied, and in comparatively pure
condition."