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Authority, and that the work should be carried out to the satisfaction
of the Surveyor to that Authority, especially as the Local Authority is
responsible for the repair and maintenance of the footpaths.
Clause 15, which proposes to allow shop fronts to project 5-in. and
10-in., ought to be objected to and the projection of cornices only
ought to be allowed and limited to 12 inches.
The other parts of the Bill relate to—
Part II.—Party structures.
Part III.—Dangerous and neglected structures.
Part IV.—Various supplemental provisions.
The Bill practically carries out the expressed object, and does not,
as it at present stands, affect the Vestry, except in those particulars I
have called special attention to.
I am, however, of opinion that the method of control over buildings,
which it is proposed to perpetuate by the Bill, is not at all satisfactory,
inasmuch as it continues the present practice of the joint superintendence
of buildings by the District Surveyors, for the thickness of walls,
etc., and the Surveyor to the Local Authority, for drainage, lines of
frontages, &c.
The District Surveyors are not in the least degree responsible to, or
under the supervision or control, of the Local Authority, and do not
report to them, but to a central Authority, which has very little local
knowledge or means of knowing what takes place in the various
Districts.
The Surveyors to the Local Authority are of course directly under
the control of persons with local knowledge.
The result is that two sets of Surveyors, acting for different
Authorities, have from time to time to inspect one building,—and
persons building have to submit sets of plans, and receive the approval
of both these Authorities.
This system causes unnecessary trouble, mistakes, and sometimes
hardship. The Builders having perhaps been told by the District Surveyor
that their plans are satisfactory, suddenly find themselves called
upon to submit plans to the Vestry, and that the Vestry are not
satisfied, and vice versa.
London is peculiar in this respect, for wherever the Public Health
Act governs the action of the Local Authority, one set of Bye-laws
applies both to the construction of the buildings and the drainage ;
and of course also only the one Surveyor is responsible for the proper
supervision and execution of the work.
I have had experience of the system which exists in the large Towns
of England, and in my opinion it is far preferable to the London one,
and I suggest that the offices of the Surveyor to the Vestry and
District Survoyors should be combined, and that the Bill should make
provision for such an amalgamation as vacaucies occur.
I remain, yours faithfully,
JAMES P. NORRINGTON, A.M.I.C.E.,
Surveyor to the Vestry.
PUBLIC HEALTH LONDON ACT, 1891.
This is one of the most important Acts affecting the Government of
London, passed for some years. The various clauses concerning the
collection of refuse, cleansing of streets, and removal of snow, &c., have