Report by the Joint committee of the House of Lords and the House of Commons on public sewers (contributions by frontagers) : together with the proceedings of the committee and minutes of evidence and speeches delivered by counsel.
- Great Britain. Parliament. Joint Committee on Public Sewers
- Date:
- 1936
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Report by the Joint committee of the House of Lords and the House of Commons on public sewers (contributions by frontagers) : together with the proceedings of the committee and minutes of evidence and speeches delivered by counsel. Source: Wellcome Collection.
88/126 (page 60)
![Sir Henry Cautley.] The question would arise again, if the owner decided to connect the sewer with his existing house, of what was a fair charge. Mr. Wrottesley.] That is the other problem, so to speak—the interim prob- lem. There is the sewer, and he wants to connect... What is the reasonable ran- som? I say it has no relation to front- age. I see in the Memorandum, which the Ministry has provided us with this morning, he does not suggest any pay- ment with regard to this type of pro- perty. It is on page 5: ‘‘ On the other hand, if the view is taken that objection (2) or (8) is sound ’’—objection (2) being: “‘that a frontager who has constructed a cesspool and has the expense 6f alter- ing his system ought not to be put to the additional expense of paying his share of the sewer’’, and objection (3) being: ‘‘ that a frontager who has con- tributed to the expense of a sewerage system ’’—that is to say through rates— ““ which has conferred no benefit on him- self ought not to be asked to share the cost of the new sewer’’. They say that if either of those objections is sound, or both of them, ‘‘a merely transitory clause will not suffice, since either ob- jection would be as valid half a century hence as now. Of the proposals which have from time to time been under dis- cussion to meet these objections, the simplest would appear to be to provide that a charge is not to be made against premises which are developed at the date on which the sewer is constructed. The effect of this, if accompanied by the usual provision that the recovery of a charge against undeveloped land is to be post- poned until the land comes into develop- ment, would be that at the date when the sewer was constructed the authority would not be in a position to recover any of the cost, but that recovery could be subsequently effected from time to time as and when the land charged came into development.’’ Mr. Tyldesley Jones.| Just read on, will you? Mr. Wrottesley.] ‘‘ It will, however, be appreciated that this course would draw a sharp distinction between the frontager on a public street and the frontager on a private street ’’—of course it would. Mr. Tyldesley Jones.] ‘‘ The latter may also ’’ Mr. Wrottesley.] ‘‘ The latter may also have paid rates for sewerage expenses without benefit to himself and may also be put to the expense of connecting his drains with the sewer and discontinuing his cesspool system.’’ That is quite true, but at least he bought his proéperty know- ing what he was in for. Sir Henry Cautley.] That difficulty still exists in the case of water supply. You may live in a parish and have your own water supply. The parish decides to have water. iWater is brought there, and you are rated for it, whether you connect with the water scheme, or not. Mr, Wrottesley.]| They can _ either charge the water rate or a deficiency rate. Sir Henry Cautley.] I am speaking of a deficiency rate. Mr. Wrottesley. | Sometimes they charge both, Sir Henry Cautley.|] If you go on the water supply and scrap your plant, you have to pay the rate as well. . Mr. Wrottesley.] Yes. charge both. Sir Henry Cautley.] Is that not a very similar position to the sewer being brought to your door? If you are a sensible person you would join with the sewer rather than keep your cesspits, in the ordinary course. Mr. Wrottesley.] I think the position is similar. Sir Henry Cautley.] In the same way, with the water supply you join with the water supply and you scrap your own supply. Mr. Wrottesley.] There is generally a water rate. Sir Henry Cautley.] Is it a hardship having to pay for the sewer with which you can join up, and scrap your own cesspit ? You get a much healthier system. Mr. Wrottesley.]. Yes. All EI say is that the standard of payment should not be frontage, because it is hopeless in the case of these old premises, not built with the Private Street ‘Works Act in front of them, and people having been very lavish in the outlay of parks or pleasure grounds: they would not have been if they had known that one of these days they had to pay for every yard of a sewer which was laid along the front- age. The next point I desire to put is that there is the case of buildings which stand far back from the road. How about those? How about the building which stands 100 yards back from the road P Mr. Cape.] You cannot make provisions for every isolated building, can you? It is usual to](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b32186022_0088.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
