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42
The urgency of the housing problem has not diminished, though
some signs in that direction are noticeable ; good-class houses are not
now so readily saleable and some have even been let; but housing
conditions of the poorer classes remain much the same.
Assuming that all the persons living more than two in a room are
overcrowded, then at least 6,000 persons or 2,000 families are living
in overcrowded conditions. Working-class houses are very rarely to
let in this Borough, letting has ceased ; and if a house falls vacant it
is put up for sale, and sold readily.
The density of the population is exemplified by the following
figures, compiled from a group of streets usually described as the
Nether wood Street Area. It is typical of what exists in all our
working-class districts.
Name of Street.
No. of occupied
premises.
Population,
Total population
at all
ages.
Average No.
of persons
per house.
Adults.
Children
under 10.
M.
F.
Nether wood Street 71 302 400 285 987 14
Palmerston Road 63 303 388 234 925 14
Kelson Street 21 96 122 82 300 14
Linstead Street 17 73 71 24 168 10
Totals 172 774 981 625 2380 14
Area of above Streets, 10 acres, or 238 persons per acre.
In the year 1920, the plan and scheme for the erection of dwellings
at South End Close was completed, and the foundation stone was
laid on November 4th of that year by His Worship the Mayor. Of
the many schemes proposed, this, the South End Close scheme, was the
only one which materialised. The first block was ready for occupation
in May, 1921.
The scheme provided for the erection of 4 blocks of 5-storey
dwellings, containing 140 separate tenements. Three different types
of dwellings were comprised in the number, and were distributed as
follows:—
(1) Living Room, Scullery and 1 Bedroom.
(2) „ „ 2 Bedrooms.
(3) „ „ 3 „