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43
[1924
HOUSING.
Islington Clearance Schemes.
George's Road and Brand Street Areas.
On 31st August, 1923, the Medical Officer of Health of Islington had made
a representation to the London County Council, under Section 4 of the 1890
Housing Act, that owing to the closeness, bad arrangement, and bad condition
the houses in the George's Road and Brand Street Areas were insanitary,
dangerous and injurious to the health of those who inhabited them. The property
was old, worn out, and, generally speaking, unlit for human habitation under
modern conditions of sanitation. The areas were 4| acres in extent and were
inhabited by 1,320 people.
A Public Enquiry, made by order of the Ministry of Health, who appointed
Mr. W. H. Collins as Inspector, was held at the Town Hall, Islington, on the
3rd December, when the London County Council were represented by Mr. William
Allen, Barrister, who stated that the representation of the Medical Officer of
Health of Islington had been very carefully considered by the London County
Council, and after inspecting the areas the Council resolved on the 27th November,
1923, to prepare a scheme of improvement. The cost of clearing away at once all
the insanitary areas of the metropolis would place too great a burden on the ratepayers.
It was, therefore, the policy of the London County to deal with the worst
spots first.
The witnesses called included Lt.-Col. C. B. Levita, J.P., L.C.C., Dr. Butler,
Medical Officer of the London County Council, and the Medical Officer of Health
for Islington. Objections were raised regarding particular buildings, but no
objection was made to the scheme as a whole.
After hearing the evidence, the objections, and visiting the areas, the
Inspector from the Ministry of Health stated that the matter would be considered
and the decision of the Ministry made known in due course.
As the result of actual visitation and enumeration in the areas it had been
found in the year 1922 that the death-rate in the Brand Street Area was 34'0 per
1,000 inhabitants; in the George's Road Area 22'0 per 1,000. The rate for the
whole Borough was 13.8 per 1,000. This was an indication that these areas
needed special attention. The attack-rate for infectious disease (not including
pulmonary tuberculosis) for the combined areas was 15.51; that of the whole
Borough being but 8'37, while attack-rate when pulmonary tuberculosis was added
was 18'38, against 10'08 for the whole Borough.
Under the new London County Council Scheme it was proposed to make provision
that 900 of the 1,320 inhabitants should be re-housed within the area, and
it was proposed to build four blocks of dwellings, each five storeys high, to
accommodate that number. The London County Council would provide accommodation
elsewhere for the remainder. The cost of the scheme was estimated
at ,£42,700, £40,000 for the acquisition of the land and £2,700 for the making
of roads. No single trade predominated among the inhabitants; there were a
good many costers, and it might be necessary to make some special provision
lor sheltering their barrows.