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Closing and Demolition Orders.
A room, the floor of which is 3 ft. or more below the level of the adjoining street, or
more than 3 ft. below the surface of any ground within 9 ft. of the room, is an underground
room within the meaning of section 12 of the Housing Act, 1936, and the Borough Council is
given powers in that section for the placing of closing orders upon such rooms unless they
comply with the appropriate regulations. In brief, these regulations provide that there shall
be (a) a certain size window to afford adequate natural light and ventilation, (b) concrete over
the site, and (c) an efficient damp-proof course in all walls in contact with the ground. A basement
room altered to comply with the regulations is a dry and light room, but there remains the
disadvantage that it continues to be ventilated at, or slightly above, street level. It thus receives
air vitiated by street dust and fumes.
The present policy of the Borough Council is to institute closing order procedure upon
only the very worst type of basement room; and other basement rooms as they become empty.
This restricted policy is temporary and was adopted because of the general shortage of housing
accommodation.
During 1952 the condition of 94 underground rooms was reported to the Public Health
Committee, resulting in closing orders being placed upon 73 of them. Thirteen rooms were altered
to comply with the regulations and no closing orders were necessary. The balance remained
to be concluded in the ensuing year. Thirteen existing closing orders were determined.
Applications were made for permission to use 16 rooms for storage purposes. Such applications
are generally granted provided food is not to be stored and the rooms are made rat proof.
There are now 1,120 basement rooms in the borough upon which closing orders are
operative. These are all visited by the district sanitary inspectors twice annually. Any
infringement of the closing order discovered which cannot be dealt with administratively is
reported to the Public Health Committee for permission to take proceedings to secure compliance
with the Order.
One demolition order was made during the year.
Overcrowding.
Requests were received from the London County Council during 1952 for confirmation
of statutory overcrowding in respect of 162 applications for re-housing. Investigations were
made by the Council's Sanitary Inspectors and details forwarded to the London County Council.
114 of these families were found to be overcrowded.