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
Feltham 1955
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Feltham]
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10
CHIEF SANITARY INSPECTOR'S REPORT
Housing—Demolition and Closure
Action in accordance with the Council's programme for
dealing with unfit houses was continued and figures relating
to this action are given below.
In July the Council's proposals for dealing with unfit
houses were submitted to the Ministry of Housing & Local
Government as required by section 1 of the Housing Repairs
& Rents Act, 1954. The proposals were provisionally approved
by the Minister. It was estimated that there were
374 unfit dwellings to be dealt with by means of Clearance
or Demolition Orders.
Since 1950 a definite allocation of houses has been made
for the rehousing of families from unfit dwellings and as a
result the worst houses have already been dealt with. The
wisdom of the decision made in 1950 became apparent as,
due to various causes, not least of which was the shortage
of available building land, the provision of accommodation
for persons displaced became more difficult.
From 1946 until the end of 1955, 167 houses have been dealt with as follows : —
| Demolition Orders made | 148 |
| Agreements entered into with owners to "close" or repair or Closing Orders made | 15 |
| Houses demolished | 114 |
| Houses demolished as a result of informal action Persons who haye been displaced | 4 443 |
Action taken during 1955 is as follows : — Housing Act, 1936
| No. of Houses | No. of Persons displaced | |
|---|---|---|
| Houses reported to Public Health Committee as being unfit | 30 | — |
| Demolition orders made | 20 | — |
| Houses demolished as a result of formal or informal procedure under Section 11 | 27 | 70 |
| Houses closed in pursuance of an undertaking given by the owners under Section 11, and still in force | — | — |
| Parts of buildings closed (Section 12) | 1 | 5 |