Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Saviour's]
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feet, whereby the roadway beneath the viaduct would have
been darkened. The Bill contained no provisions for securing
the free transit of vehicles in the Borough High Street or elsewhere
during the execution of the works, or for lighting the
thoroughfares, if darkened, or for preventing the percolation of
water through the bridges, or for deadening the sound of
passing trains, or for giving notice of and depositing detailed
Plans and sections previous to the commencement of the works,
or any special provisions for the protection of the district.
The Board therefore resolved to oppose, and lodged a petition
against the Bill, praying to be heard by counsel, agents, and
witnesses in opposition thereto. The Bill came before a
Select Committee of the House of Lords, of which Lord
Kensington was Chairman, in April last, Mr. Balfour
Browne, Q.C., and Mr. Rigg, appearing as Counsel on behalf
of the Board. At an early stage the Engineer of the
Company, Mr. Brady, in the course of his examination by
Counsel, conceded the more important points as to height of
bridges, &c., and agreed that the Borough High Street should
be crossed by a girder bridge of the same description as the
existing one, in lieu of an arch as described upon the deposited
sections, and at the same elevation ; he also consented to the
widening on the north side of Stoney Street being limited to
15 feet. After a considerable amount of argument, extending
over several days, it was decided to allow similar clauses for
the protection of the district to those which were inserted in
the Company's New Lines and Widenings Act of 1882, so far
as the same were applicable ; and also the insertion of clauses
relative to the character and height of bridges but the
control of the latter was given to the London County Council.
The several clauses as finally settled were as under:—
" Section 8 (Sub-section 2)—Notwithstanding anything in
this Act or on the deposited plans and sections, where the bridges
or works next hereinafter mentioned, are constructed under the
powers of this Act over any street or road, there shall be left
a clear headway throughout, above the existing surface of the
street or road, and a clear span throughout measured on the