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Your Memorialists further desire to point out that it was not until
after the receipt by your honourable Board of the letter from your
Memorialists above referred to, dated the 20th December, that any
-steps were taken to close the opening in the barrier in question but,
about that time, the opening was boarded over with a view to
temporarily protecting the district.
Your Memorialists consider that the temporary boarding provided
is faulty in construction, and of such a character as not to afford any
security whatever against the risk of inundation.
Your Memorialists therefore humbly pray that your honourable
Board will take immediate steps to cause the flood works
in question to be properly reinstated, and also exercise
your powers for the enforcement of penalties as provided in
in the Act.
And your Memorialists will ever pray, &c."
Signed on behalf of the Memorialists,
this 4th day of January, 1889. W. H. ATKINS,
Clerk of the Board.
Shortly afterwards a letter was received from the Metropolitan
Board of Works stating that the barrier in question
had been properly reinstated. In March, however, the Surveyor
made a further report, and pointed out that, in his
opinion, the flood works generally on Bankside were in an
insecure condition. A copy was forwarded to the then newly
formed London County Council, who thereupon caused a
survey to be made and a number of the barriers to be
repaired.
In consequence of the great and increasing obstruction occa-
sioned by the placing of goods upon the three-feet space in front
of the buildings in Southwark Street, the Board, in January
last, took the opinion of Counsel (Mr. Besley) as to the same,
and, acting under his advice, summonses were taken out under
sect. 65 of 57 Geo. III., c. 29, at the Southwark Police Court
against a number of the offenders. These were adjourned from
time to time to meet the convenience of Counsel on either side,
but, on the 12th March, they came on for hearing before Mr.
Slade, the Magistrate, the case of Taylor & Wright, who
occupied premises at the Hop Exchange, being taken as a test
case. Mr. Besley appeared on behalf of the Board, and Mr.
Bray for the Defendants, and a number of witnesses were
called on either side. Ultimately the case was adjourned
Southwark
Street 3
feet.