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that suitable sites are unavailable. With the exception of a
few isolated sites, many of which are in districts where)there
are restrictive regulations, or are not on "transport" lines,
the Wimbledon area it) practically built up. The Plough Lane
site might be available for building, but in this ease there
would be the additional expense necessary to meet the Council's
Bye-laws in regard to building on low-lying sites.
Wimbledon has always been regarded as one of London's
most desirable "dormitories," alike from reasons of health,
amenity and accessibility. Many persons are desirous of
residing in this district, but to build houses, which would only
be attractive to those at present residing outside the district,
would do nothing to relieve the overcrowding that exists.
It is a matter of some difficulty to gauge the extent of
this overcrowding or to state in which Ward it is most acute.
In many cases the overcrowding is only brought to the notice
of the Public Health Department when some disagreement
arises between the tenants. Sub-letting of rooms, furnished or
unfurnished, the taking in of lodgers, and boarders all exist.
In many cases temporary arrangements made during the War,
which were quite suitable to all parties, have now become quite
unjustifiable, either from the increase in family or other
reasons. In such cases both parties may be alive to the drawbacks
and may be anxious to remedy the conditions, but they
are entirely unable to do so from want of other suitable
accommodation. Even in cases where young couples have
lodged with parents or other relatives little domestic difficulties
are liable to occur.
To take legal action in such cases would only accentuate the
hardships, and, while the Council is fully alive to the dangers
to health from overcrowding, there is little that can be done
except to safeguard the health of the community as far as
possible. It would be easy to give numerous examples of such
cases but this would not reduce the overcrowding. The congestion
in Wimbledon can only be relieved by building in other
neighbouring districts, and, as it would be unreasonable to
expect such local Authorities to bear the brunt of expense for
Wimbledon's benefit, the solution would appear to be National
rather than Parochial. Once suitable accommodation is available,
immediate steps can and will be taken to reduce local
overcrowding.
Population.
The Registrar General states that the reduction of population
shewn by the 1923 estimate for the Borough of Wimbledon,
is due almost entirely to an adjustment in respect of a
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