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The gulley detritus is conveyed by the machine to the Council's
shoot, where it is unloaded into a trench dug 5 ft. deep to enable
the moisture to drain away.
Cesspools.
The method of emptying the eight cesspools in the Borough
has been improved by the employment of mechanical vacuum
suction machines in lieu of hand pumps and a horse-drawn cesspool
van—a contract having been entered into during the year which
also results in a financial saving by the Council.
Dining the year the Public Health Department dealt with 505
complaints received from the Borough Engineer and Surveyor of
houses without dustbins, or with defective dustbins.
Three hundred and twenty-nine informal notices were served,
and further action taken as required.
PROVISION of STORAGE ACCOMMODATION for DUST-BINS.
On 9th March, 1933, I reported to the Public Health Committee
that in the conversion of private premises to business premises and
the extension of business premises it sometimes occurs that the
whole of the curtilage is covered by building extensions, and that
this practice may become more general following the operation of
the by-laws relating to water-closets, etc., recently issued by the
London County Council.
These by-laws permit water-closets to be built, under certain
conditions, without an external open area or place adjoining, as was
required by the old by-laws, since it is now permissible to utilise
roof lights and ventilation for these structures. On such a property
covered by buildings there is no open space exterior to the building
in which trade refuse receptacles or dustbins can be stored, even
though the upper part of the premises may be used for private
residence. If it were considered impracticable to insist on an open
space being provided in all such cases, the provision of a properly
constructed and permanently ventilated lobby or compartment
might be made compulsory.
As the London County Council was considering a revision of
the London Building Acts this proposal was forwarded for the
consideration of that Authority.