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On the 16th March, the Borough Council made closing orders,
prohibiting the use of the houses for human habitation, until in the
judgment of the Council the houses were rendered fit for that purpose.
On the 20th April, the closing orders were duly served on the owners
of the houses ; but the owners had already taken steps to terminate the
tenancies, and the houses were promptly emptied.
On the 3rd November, the closing orders having remained operative
for a period of three mouths, the Public Health Committee took into
consideration the question of the demolition of the houses ; but as, at
that time, the owners were proceeding to demolish the houses, the matter
was adjourned. The demolitions were completed by the middle of
November.
On the 20th October, the following report was presented to the
Public Health Committee :—
Housing and Town Planning Act, etc., Act, 1909.
Nos. 1, 2, 6 and 7, Little Blenheim-street.
On the 5th October, 1910, I made an inspection of these premises under the
provisions of the Housing and Town Planning Act, 1909, and the Regulations of
the Local Government Board, and have to report as follows:—
The houses are two-roomed, one room on the ground floor and one room on
the first floor, without back yards, and without through light or ventilation,
except for a very small window about 12 inches square in the back wall of the
staircase or of the upper room. The houses are worn-out and dilapidated, with
very defective woodwork and plastering, and are generally in a dirty and
insanitary condition, the floors of the ground floor rooms being level with or
below the surface of tho adjoining courtyard, and resting directly on the ground.
The rooms vary in height from 6 ft. 6 in. to 7 ft., or a little over. The w.c.'s and
water-taps are in the front courtyard.
Nos. 3, i, 5 and 8, Little Blehheim-street, have been closed by the owner,
and I believe there is no intention to re-let them.
In my opinion, Nos. 1, 2, 6 and 7, Little Blenheim-street, are in a state so
dangerous or injurious to health as to be unfit for human habitation, and I have
to recommend that orders be made under Section 17, sub-section 2, of the
Housing and Town Planning Act, 1909, prohibiting the use of the dwellinghouses
for human habitation.
LOUIS C. PARKES, M.D., D.P.H.,
Medical Officer of Health.
11th October, 1910.
On the 26th October, 1910, the Borough Council made closing
orders prohibiting the use of the houses for human habitation, until, in
the judgment of the Council, the houses are rendered fit for that purpose.
The closing orders were served upon the owners, and the houses
were emptied of the tenants by the middle of November.
Consequent upon the receipt of the Regulations of the Local
Government Board under Section 17 (1) of the Housing and Town
Planning Act, 1909 (2nd Sept., 1910), a list of 22 streets and courts in the
Borough containing dwelling-houses, the early inspection of which is, in
the opinion of the Medical Officer of Health, desirable, with a view to
ascertain whether any dwelling-house therein is in a state so dangerous
or injurious to health as to be unfit for human habitation, was presented
to the Borough Council on the 28th September. Of the dwelling-houses
comprised in the 22 streets and courts, the majority are old property, the
houses being the oldest and most worn-out of any in the Borough.