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The original estimate for purchasing the property, clearing the site,
making new roads and sewers in connection with the Fulford
Street and Braddon Street Scheme was £31,920
The value of the site remaining for building purposes was estimated at 2,800
£29,120
Towards which the County Council agreed to contribute one half £14,560
The actual cost of acquiring the property, clearing the site, together
with the estimated cost of making new roads and sewers, was £37,848
The value of the site is estimated at 2,800
£35,048
The County Council declined to increase their contribution, so that,
although originally the expense was to be shared between the
County Council and the Sanitary Authority, this Council will expend £20,488
As against the County Council's expenditure of ±'14,560
and even this does not represent the actual difference because the Council had to pay
large sums away and incur expenses for interest before receiving the grant from the
County Council.
In addition this Council has all the responsibility and expense of rehousing the
persons displaced.
(6) The Council observe that the County Council in their letter refrain from
replying to two of the most important points raised by this Council, namely (a) that if
this Council undertook the scheme under Part 11. the adjoining Borough of South war k
would reap practically as much benefit as Bermondsey without making any contribution;
{b) that the London County Council are and have been misconstruing the meaning and
intention of the Act having regard to the limitation put upon the County Council by
Section 72 that they shall not take any proceedings on a representation which relates
to not more than 10 houses, with the result that the poorest Boroughs in the Metropolis
have been saddled with responsibilities and heavy expenses which the legislature never
contemplated, but which in fact it intended should be common to the whole of London
and undertaken by the central body.
In reply to this letter, the following letter was received from the Local GovernmentBoard :—
" We report the receipt of a letter from the Local Government Board adverting to
this Council's letter of the 20th September, 1905, with reference to the representation
made by the Medical Officer of Health under Part I. of the Housing of the Working
Classes Act, 1890, in respect of an area comprising Cusack Place, Gareth Place, and a part
of Porlock Place; and stating that the Board do not propose at this stage to appoint an
arbitrator under Section 73 (1) of the Act, but to direct a local inquiry by one of their
Inspectors for the purpose of ascertaining the facts in regard to the area. The inquiry
will take place as soon as the other engagements of the Inspectors will permit, and due
notice of it will be given."
This letter was followed by an advertisement of the Local Government Board, that an
inquiry would be held by one of the inspectors of the Board, Mr. F. J. Willis, B.L., on November
20th, 1905, at 11 a.m.
On November 28th the Public Health Committee further reported that the Local Government
Board inquiry was duly held on the 20th inst., at 11 a.m., by F. .J. Willis, Esq., barrister -
at-law, one of the Inspectors of the Board. Mr. Courthope Munro represented the Council,
Mr. Hawes, of the Solicitor's Department, London County Council, represented the County
Council. Dr. Brown, Medical Officer, Dr. Hamer, Assistant Medical Officer, London County
Council, and Mr. Hunt, from the Valuer's Department of the County Council, gave evidence.
The Inspector will make his report to the Board.
At this inquiry evidence was taken as to the general insanitary condition of the area, the
following points being agreed upon by the Medical Officer of the L.C.C., and myself, viz.:—
General.
The area, comprising Cusack Place, Gareth Place, and 15, 17, 19, 21 to 33 (odd), 20,
to 40, Porlock Place, is '38 of an acre in extent, and situated at the London Bridge end of the
Borough of Bermondsey.
It is oblong in shape, the long diameter running approximately north and south.
It is approached by four narrow passages from Crosby Row, and one at the back from
Kipling Street. The surface of the area is below the level of the surrounding streets and spaces,
the depth varying from 3 to 4 ft. in different parts, and to 3 ft. below Trinity high water mark.
The houses, 41 in number, are mostly two-storied cottages from 14 to 20 ft. high
(measuring from the roof top). They are surrounded by buildings ranging in height from 27
to 65 ft. above the ground level of the area in question. These are so close that they prevent
the access of light and air to the area generally, causing it therefore to be situated in a kind of
well.
All the cottages are old, and the rooms on the upper floor, where they exist, are very lowpitched
and generally deficient in light and ventilation.