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cases when approached as to the desirability of having their names submitted
to the County Council, with a view to provision of housing on
one of the Council's Estates, decline to consider the proposition, on the
ground that the distance of the County Council's Estates from their
Work is too great. Others have become attached to the district and will
n ot contemplate forsaking existing interests and associations. Owing
to the extreme difficulty of finding alternative accommodation it has
not been found possible to deal with more than a proportion of the cases of
overcrowding during the year. Whenever possible, arrangements are
made with the London County Council for the provision of a house for the
overcrowded family. Thirty-nine such families obtained accommodation
on the Council's Estates during the year. Further, when vacant tenements
become available in the Borough Council's dwellings preferential
treatment is as far as possible given to cases of overcrowding. With a
View to preventing a recurrence of overcrowding in premises which are
being vacated because of their overcrowded condition, a cautionary
letter is always sent to the landlord concerned, warning him that action
Will be taken against him in the event of a recurrence of overcrowded
conditions in the premises.
Fitness of Houses. —The general standard of housing in the Borough
is satisfactory. There has been a very definite improvement in housing
conditions during the past three years. The constant vigilance of the
Sanitary Inspectors has impressed upon both owners and tenants their
determination that every dwelling house shall be maintained in a reasonable
state of repair and that there shall be systematic observance of
cleanliness.
For some years past it was apparent that in a portion of the western
district the houses were old, worn out and required constant repairs and
renovations. This area, comprising World's End Passage and courts
a butting thereon, about 1 acre 37 poles in extent, was during 1926,
the subject of an official representation under the Housing Act, 1925.
After full enquiry, the Minister of Health's order confirming the Scheme
Was received by the Borough Council in March, 1928.
Under the Scheme, as modified by the Minister of Health, the Council
ar e to provide upon the site dwellings for the accommodation of 379
Persons of the working classes (approximately the number resident on
the area). Arrangements have been made for the erection (on the cleared
site) of four blocks of buildings comprising a total of 62 flats, of which
5 contain four rooms, 37 contain three rooms, and 20 contain 2 rooms.
A provisional estimate of £50,000. to include cost of acquisition, clearance
of the area and the erection of buildings thereon, has been approved by
the Borough Council.
All necessary work in connection with clearance of the area and construction
of new buildings is now in operation.
With the consent of the Minister of Health, the Borough Council
has leased, for 99 years a nominal rent, to the Chelsea Housing Improvement
Society, Limited—a public-spirited and practical body—a portion
of the area. The site at the eastern end (that adjacent to the Embankment)
was cleared first and the construction of the first block of buildings