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Rotherhithe, a report made to the Council by the Fire Brigade Committee on the question.
The report was adopted by the Council last Tuesday, and the Fire Brigade Committee
will in due course take steps to give effect thereto. It will be observed that pending the
erection of a permanent Fire Station in the locality the provision of a temporary station is
authorised.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
C. J. STEWART,
Clerk of the Council.
The Clerk of the Yestry of Rotherhithe.
Report referred to.
13.—The Council on 22nd November last approved the course taken by us in arranging
for the placing near each of the three fire alarms in Rotherhithe Street of a
ladder 24 feet long for life saving purposes in the event of fire. This action was taken
on the recommendation of the chief officer to meet the objections of the Yestry of
Rotherhithe, who had protested against the removal of the Fire Escape which for some
years had stood near the Norwegian Church in Bickley Row, Rotherhithe, but which the
authorities of the church had called upon the Council to remove as they required the
space. The Council's resolution was communicated to the Yestry of Rotherhithe, and
that body at the end of December sent a communication in which it expressed great surprise
at the action of the Council and gave reasons for its opinion that danger would attend
the use of the ladders referred to. The Yestry asked that, before finally deciding
the matter, members of the Council would visit the locality to acquaint themselves
with its peculiar geographical features, and also forwarded a copy of resolutions passed
at a public meeting of ratepayers urging that the Escape in question should be replaced,
and that a small Fire Engine Station should be established between Surrey Lock and
Lady Dock Bridges. The Yestry asked the Council to receive a deputation in support of
such requests. Subsequently the Yestry forwarded, in compliance with the Council's
standing Order, a Memorial with regard to the above-mentioned requests, but, as we
judged that the Council would not wish to receive the deputation, we ourselves have received
the deputation.
None of the statements made, either in the Memorial or by the deputation, have induced
us to alter our opinion that the area within which proper protection is afforded
by a Hand Escape in charge of one fireman is extremely limited, and we are therefore not