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shafts must materially affect the health of the residents, and also that should this
Parish be visited with any epidemic, the results in the locality of this sewer, will in
all probability, prove most severe and fatal.
That your Petitioners have found with great satisfaction, that the health of this
Parish has been greatly improved within the last few years, the cause of which they
confidently attribute to the covering in the open ditches and sewers, and the carrying
out and enforcing the several provisions of the Metropolis Local Management Act.
That in the carrying out effectually the provisions of the Metropolis Local Management
Act, your Petitioners have been anxious to get rid of cesspools, and also to
see that no exhalations should arise from the covered sewers and drains, and they cause
all inlets thereto to be properly trapped.
That from the peculiar position of the Deptford-road Sewer, and its being so
constantly charged with sewage matter, it is in effect nothing less than an elongated
cesspool, of about a mile and a half in length, and is now worse than an open sewer,
as the streams of gases are concentrated and forced up these air-holes in such considerable
quantities, as not to admit of their gradual diffusion through the air.
That your Petitioners have repeatedly complained to the Metropolitan Board of
Works of these most serious and fatal evils, and have also memorialized the Board
upon the subject, and pointed out the danger to the health of the Inhabitants, but no
steps have been taken to remedy such complaints.
That from the causes herein mentioned, your Petitioners are fearful that some
serious and fatal disease, similar to that which some few years ago broke out in
Croydon, will visit this Parish, unless prompt measures are taken to prevent the
Neighbourhood being poisoned with the gases from this sewer.
Your Petitioners therefore most humbly pray your Honourable House to
take in consideration this most important and urgent subject involving
especially the healtli of the Inhabitants of this Parish, and that your
Honourable House will be pleased to appoint a Committee to investigate
into the matter, or that your Honourable House will be pleased to grant
such further or other relief as to your Honourable House shall seem
meet.
And your Petitioners will ever pray, &c.
The Corporate seal affixed by
order of the Vestry, on the L. S.
29th day of March, 1859.
(.Signed) Charles Erwin.
Chairman.
(Signed) R. Shafto Hawks.
Clerk.