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21
Accommodation for Costermongers
The general condition of mews dwellings in the borough
has received much attention from the public health viewpoint
for many years. In certain of the mewsways occupied by
persons of the street trading class, the stable accommodation
is used for storage, etc., and difficulties constantly arise
owing to the nature of the businesses carried on.
In connection with the policy of clearing unsatisfactory
mews dwellings, the Council appreciated that street traders
must have storage accommodation for their horses, vehicles,
barrows and goods. Accordingly, the London County Council
were requested to promote legislation to enable the Borough
Council to provide accommodation for costermongers, who might
be displaced from unit mewsways.
Since 28th July, 1950, special legislation has enabled
the Kensington Council to provide and maintain storage and
stabling accommodation for use by street traders and other
like persons displaced by reason of the exercise by the Council
of their powers under the Housing Acts, 1936/49, or by the
acquisition of lands under any other enactment.
It is satisfactory to know that Kensington were pioneers
in this matter and that steps were taken to extend these
special powers throughout the Administrative County, under
the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1951.
Plans for erecting costermongers' stabling and storage
accommodation in Gadsden Mews have been prepared by the
Borough Engineer, and the acquisition of the mewsway (which
is cleared of buildings) is now proceeding.
Overcrowding
When the war ended in 1945, it was considered that, owing
to the large number of houses destroyed or severely damaged
during air raids, overcrowding might present a formidable
problem.
It was felt that the rigid enforcement of the overcrowding
standards in the Housing Act, 1936, would be impracticable
and, therefore, the Public Health Committee approved a scheme
for dealing with the worst cases in the first place.
In September, 1945, the Committee adopted a Modified
Standard which involved increasing the "permitted number"
for a dwelling house by a specific amount according to the
number of rooms. This Standard has been applied throughout,
although minor amendments have been made as a result of
experience gained.
All cases of overcrowding coming to notice have been
classified under four headings as follows
Category 1. Overcrowding under the legal
standard where alternative
accommodation has been offered
and refused.
Category 2. Overcrowding in excess of the
Modified Standard.
Category 3. Overcrowding above the legal
standard but within the Modified
Standard, where there are
special medical reasons involved.