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9
(a) Shared dwellings and overcrowding
About six out of ten households in Willesden share a dwelling. This is higher than the average for
the county and for Greater London (about three out of ten) and much higher than England and Wales (less
than two out of ten).
The number of persons per room is higher than that of Greater London, England and Wales, and
any district in the county, and the percentage of population and of households at densities over and 2
persons per room is the highest in the county, in some instances the percentage is more than double.
(b) Bathrooms
The proportion of households either sharing or without a fixed bath (six out of ten) is almost double
that of the average of the county, and is much higher than that of Greater London and England and Wales
(about four out of ten).
The proportion sharing or without a water closet, cooking stove or a kitchen sink is higher than the
average for the County of Middlesex.
Gardens
Willesden is poorly equipped with public open spaces: 242 acres compared with an estimated need
of 1,313 acres: yet one in four families have no garden at all, and a large number have to share a garden.

SANITARY SECTION
Staff
The establishment of Public Health Inspectors includes a Chief Public Health Inspector, a Deputy
Chief Public Health Inspector, 18 District Inspectors and 5 Pupil Public Health Inspectors.
Mr. C. G. Rothwell, Deputy Chief Public Health Inspector, was appointed Chief Inspector following
the retirement of Mr. F. Taylor in November, 1956, and Mr. J. Mains, Area Public Health Inspector,
Paddington, was appointed to fill the resultant vacancy.
At the beginning of the year there were two vacancies for district Inspectors. There were
two resignations and one retirement during the year. Three appointments were made, leaving two vacancies at
the end of the year.
Three Pupil Public Health Inspectors were on the staff at the beginning of the year. They qualified,
received their certificates and were appointed to Willesden. Two new pupils were appointed, leaving three
vacancies.
The Rodent Officer and four operatives are employed in the destruction of rats and mice in the borough,
and two labourers on vermin disinfestation. drain testing and general duties.
SANITARY INSPECTION OF THE AREA
The majority of houses inspected during the year followed complaints from tenants; there was no
systematic house-to-house inspection. Unfortunately many tenants contact the Public Health Department
only when the defects are serious and costly to remedy.
Demolition and Closing Orders
Housing Act, 1957
Details of demolition and closing orders made under the above Act are shown in table 26.
Slum Clearance
Slum clearance surveys were carried out in three areas in South Kilburn: one with 155 properties in
Albert, Denmark and Canterbury Roads, another with 52 premises in a triangular area bounded by parts
of Canterbury and Peel Roads and Carlton Vale, and a third with 5 houses in Cambridge Avenue.
The Minister of Housing and Local Government confirmed the Willesden Lane Compulsory
Purchase Order, which had been the subject of a public inquiry earlier in the year.
A start was made on surveys of the 191 houses in the Holly Lane/Mayo Road Slum Clearance
scheme, and of 915 houses in the proposed Stonebridge Redevelopment Area.