[Report 1897] / Medical Officer of Health, North Riding of Yorkshire County Council.

  • North Riding of Yorkshire (England). County Council.
Date:
1897
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1897] / Medical Officer of Health, North Riding of Yorkshire County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Fingliall and Hornby are .without a proper supply, whilst a scheme is being prepared for West Scrafton. In the Flaxton District new surface wells have been made at Claxton, Haxby, Towthorpe and Huntington. Dr. Tinley, Whitby Urban, writes,—For several years past the intermittent supply of water to the town during the season has been very unsatisfactory, but I hope with the improvements which are now being carried on, we shall get a more constant and regular supply.” In the Oswaldkirk Division of Helmsley a scheme has been adopted for Stonegrave and Newton East with Laysthorpe. A scheme for Bedale is under consideration. In the Thornaby-on-Tees District the water has been laid on to Thornaby village, in the Guisborough Urban District the water of two farm houses was condemned and steps taken to obtain a proper supply. Dr. Stainthorpe, writes,—“ More than half the houses in the districts embraced in the Guisborough Union are supplied with water by the Cleveland Water Company. This water, partly surface, partly spring, is of a high degree of purity, nor is it open to contamination by sewage or similar matter, as there is not an inhabited house within the area of its gathering ground.” The supply to certain cottages in the higher part of Lingdale is reported to be deficient, owing to the inability of the Cleveland Company to give a supply by gravitation. In the Easingwold District, Farlington has obtained a supply, but not Alne, button, and Huby. A supply is required for Low Silton in the Northallerton Rural District, and is reported to be deficient at Newbiggen, Aysgarth, and Thoralby in the Aysgarth District. Dr. Holt, writing of the Waterworks and Bools at Malton, says.—“ The smaller pool should be filled up since it can serve no useful purpose by remaining as it is. When it is remembered that such basin is often empty and that it is within two or three yards of the well from which the town’s water supply is drawn, I think there can be no valid reason for its further existence.” In the Scarborougli Rural, Seamer now gets a supply from the Scarborough Mains. Gristhorpe from the I'iley Company, and steps are being taken to provide one for West Ay ton. In the Pickering Rural District a scheme was prepared in 1896 for the supply of Cropton, an enquiry was held by the Local Government Board who, however, referred the matter back to the Council, with a view of having a combined scheme including Spaunton, Lastingham and Appleton. A Committee of the Pickering and Kirbymoor- side Councils has been formed and an Engineer engaged to prepare plans. The supply was deficient during the summer at Rosedale, and at Lookton, where it is dependent on cisterns; at High Street, Thornton Dale, the two pumps during a drought often give out, the inhabitants are then in the habit of obtaining their drinking water from the stream into which the sewage of the higher part of the village discharges. Sanitary Work— Dr. Sevier, Startforth, reports that four tenements near the Mill at Bridge End had only one privy, and that discharging direct into the Tees, earth closets were provided. A new sewage scheme for Reeth is under construction. In the Leyburn District the drainage of East Witton is nearly completed, Leyburn is on the point of adopting a scheme, and Middleham requires one. In the Flaxton District a new sewer has been laid at Huntington, and slight improvements made at Flaxton, which village however needs a new scheme. Dr. Tinley, Whitby, writes—“ During the year I have called the attention of the Board to the unsatisfactory condition of the sewer outlets, and have advised that these should from time to time be dredged, or if not dredged, should in some way be cleaned ; during the season the smell from the harbour was very bad, and I believe it arose in a great measure from the accumulation of sewage at the sewer outfalls, and from sewage being mixed with the seaweed which at certain periods is washed into the harbour. I hope before another season these outfalls will be attended to, and I believe your Council has arranged for one of the sewers to be carried further down the harbour.” Dr. Tweedy, Northallerton Urban, recommends the Council to adopt the following Measures— (1) The house drains to have constructed disconnecting chambers properly trapped from the main sewer, and that all drains be ventilated with an air inlet at the lower part and a ventilating outlet shaft at the head ; (2) To abolish all privies and middens in the crowded yards, and all those that are bound to be emptied into the main street, and cause water closets to be erected in their places ; (3) To adopt the Compulsory Notification of Infectious Diseases Act; (4) The relaying of the sewer in the Back Lane, leading from the Police Station down to the National School, and the connecting of the house drains from Dudley Terrace with it. Dr. Tweedy also writes—“ I much regret that owing to some cause with which I have not been acquainted, the sewage is still discharged untreated into the Willow Beck, and this, notwithstanding that efficient sewage works have been constructed and an intercepting sewer laid down to connect and converge all the sewage to these works. These works were tested thoroughly, with the best possible results as regards the efiluent discharged, and during the time these works were being used the condition of the beck improved considerably. Whatever the cause of the delay in using these works may be, I hope it will be removed before the warm weather arrives and again converts this running stream into a filthy open sewer.” Dr. Atkinson, Startforth, Romaldkirk Division, writes—“ Cotherston.—This village remains in exactly the same state as regards drainage and water supply, as it has done for several years back. No improvement, even though many new houses are being built, and a great number of visitors coming to stay there during the Summer and Autumn. Romaldkirk.—The bad drainage of this village remains the same,—no improvement.