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58
both for the working classes and for the classes in receipt of small salaries
or earnings, and that, as elsewhere, this situation is primarily due to the
restrictions imposed upon the building trades during the war and the
economic disturbances which have succccded it.
It will, however, be evident from the details already given that the
existing shortage of housing accommodation in Chelsea is being most
adequately dealt with and that the extremely difficult problems which
confronted the Borough Council subsequent to the war are gradually
being overcome. In this connection the invaluable services rendered
by the former Mayor (Mr. Alderman C. B. Clapcott, O.B.E.), and the
late Chairman of the Housing Committee (Mr. Councillor E. B.
Baggallay) will always be remembered with appreciation in the municipality.
Overcrowding.—Overcrowding, where it exists, is mainly confined
to the western district of the Borough. This conclusion is based partly
on house-to-house inspections of the area and partly on applications
submitted for alternate housing accommodation. There has been some
little improvement in its prevalence during the year. Many of the 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 not 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. Twenty-nine such families obtained accommodation on the
Council's Estates during the year. Further, when vacant tenements
became 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 land'ord 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 five years. The vast majority of houses have
an adequate internal water supply and adequate sanitary accommodation
within their own curtilage. 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 abutting thereon, about 1 acre, 37 poles in extent, was during