London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Willesden 1953
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]
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Table 2
Houses requiring action
(Defects in brackets)
| 1952 | 1953 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chimneys | 116 (125) | 54 (54) | 170 (179) |
| Roofs | 265 (265) | 148 (148) | 413 (413) |
| Gutters and downspouts | 248 (312) | 140 (165) | 388 (477) |
| Soil and vent pipes | 103 (103) | 46 (46) | 149 (149) |
| Brickwork | 296 (365) | 136 (170) | 432 (535) |
| Windows | 470 (849) | 257 (420) | 727 (1269) |
| Paving | 200 (228) | 87 (92) | 287 (320) |
| Water closet accommodation | 395 (629) | 222 (280) | 617 (909) |
| Drainage | 13 (13) | 5 (5) | 18 (18) |
| Walls and ceilings | 468 (1425) | 271 (782) | 739 (2207) |
| Floors | 194 (213) | 113 (118) | 307 (331) |
| Total defects | 4527 | 2280 | 6807 |
| Overcrowding | 7 | 2 | 9 |
| Houses with T.B. cases | 8 | 4 | 12 |
Table 3
Action Recommended
| 1952 | 1953 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Section 9, Housing Act, 1936 | 464 | 308 | 772 |
| Section 93, Public Health Act, 1936 | 34 | 6 | 40 |
| Section 39, Public Health Act, 1936 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Section 45, Public Health Act, 1936 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Intimation notices | 9 | 3 | 12 |
| Total | 511 | 320 | 831 |
Table 4
Results of Action Taken
| Work completed | 664* | |
| Work commenced | 60 | |
| Notices served but time limit not expired | 7 | |
| Negotiations pending with owners | 43 | |
| Outstanding appeal | 1 | |
| Total | 775 | |
| *Included in figure above | Referred to Borough Engineer 24 work done by Borough Engineer 29 work done by owners | |
| Demolition and Closing Orders | ||
| Housing Act, 1936 (Sections 11 and 12) | 1953 | |
| There were no demolition orders made during the year | (2)* | |
| Closing Orders : | ||
| 3, Cardigan Road (basement) | ||
| 53, Chichester Road (basement) | 2 (1)* | |
| (*1952 in brackets) | ||
One closing order made in 1951, 2, Victoria Villas (basement) was determined, after the owner had
carried out works to render the basement fit for human habitation.
Demolition Orders outstanding from previous years
32, Connaught Road (1950). After much delay an undertaking to carry out the repairs was
received from the owners, and at the end of the year work was almost completed.
1, Avenue Road (1950) and 76, Canterbury Road (1951). Closing orders are being substituted for
demolition orders under Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1953, sections 10 and 11.
1 and 2, Bridge Place (1951). It has not yet been possible to rehouse the tenants.
157, Willesden Lane (1952). Demolished by Borough Engineer in default of owner.
Overcrowding
There has been little change in the overcrowding problem which still remains acute. Only a few
licences were issued to permit temporary overcrowding under Section 61 of the Housing Act; landlords
are no longer using this section to obtain an eviction order because they know that the Court is inclined to
deal sympathetically with the tenants.