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failed to take action under the Housing Act it would impose
severe hardship and endanger the health of the occupants of the
unfit dwelling.
Slum Clearance
The five year programme (1956-1960) of slum clearance
agreed with the London County Council was continued during
the year and the following 13 areas were declared.
No. of
dwelling
Houses
No. of persons
to be
displaced
Area
Date of
declaration
Gervase Street
13. 3.57
12
46
Lettsom Street (No.1)
3.7.57
2
2
„ „ (No. 2)
3. 7.57
8
20
31. 7.57
New James Street
9
32
Havil Street
31. 7.57
5
18
Hornby Road
31. 7.57
3
8
23.10.57
Elmington Road (No.1)
4
10
„ „ (No. 2)
23.10.57
2
7
„ „ (No. 3)
23.10.57
2
6
23.10.57
„ „ (No. 4)
6
22
Nunhead Green (No.1)
23.10.57
3
10
„ „ (No. 2)
23.10.67
2
4
23.10.57
May's Place
6
20
Overcrowding
Seventy-four cases of overcrowding came to the notice of
the Public Health Department during the year and in 67 instances
certificates of overcrowding were sent to the Housing Department
of both the Borough Council and the County Council in
support of applications by the families concerned for the provision
of alternative accommodation.
At a block of flats in Camberwell Grove several cases of
overcrowding were reported. On investigation it appeared that
these dwellings had changed ownership and as flats became
vacant the new owner was letting each room separately with
communal use of the kitchen. Some of the rooms had been let
to married couples with children with the result that serious
infringements of the overcrowding provisions of the Housing
Act had arisen. The owner's attention was drawn to these
contraventions, but as no steps were taken to abate the overcrowding,
the matter was reported to the Public Health Committee,
who directed that the owner be warned that statutory
action would be taken in respect of any future lettings that