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83
condition, as incapable of being made fit for human
habitation, and as deserving of destruction as those in
the Tabard Street area.
The County Council, therefore, recognises and admits
that the representation of the Medical Officer of Health
was well-founded, and the facts upon which the representation
was based cannot be disputed.
The question at issue is how best to treat the area,
and the Borough Council has consistently maintained
that the only satisfactory way of dealing with it is by
means of an improvement scheme under Part I. of the
Act.
We regret that the County Council for some
considerable time failed to deal with the representation
made in 1904 on the ground that there was an immediate
prospect of the area being developed by private enterprise.
There was no substance in that suggestion, and
the County Council was so informed. The time that has
since elapsed sufficiently demonstrates that there was no
justification for postponement on the ground that the
area would be re-developed by private enterprise.
In view of the unfortunate delay and the lamentable
consequences that have resulted from it, we are strongly
convinced that there is no justification for any further
postponement of the duty which rests upon the County
Council to undertake its obligations in regard to the
Brady Street area.
The Town Clerk has drawn our attention to the fact
that the first resolution of the London County Council
states "that further legislation on the subject of the
Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890, is
practically certain at no distant date." It may be that
the County Counncil has reason for confidence in the