London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Kensington 1952

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]

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Portobello Road 14 premises)
A Clearance Order made by the Council on the
11th March, 1952, was confirmed by the Minister
of Housing and Local Government, without modification,
on the 4th July, 1952.
By the end of the year, the premises had been
vacated and steps were being taken to secure
demolition.

Future programme On the 14th October, 1952, the Council approved a further programme of slum clearance to include the following areas:-

Future programme On the 14th October, 1952, the Council approved a further programme of slum clearance to include the following areas:-
Addison Place Area60 premises
Child's Passage Area6 „
Blechynden Street Area107 „
Wornington Road Area370 „
Talbot Grove Area72 „
Thorpe Mews Area26 „
Treverton Street Area120 „

Progress will be governed by national and local policy,
by economic and financial consideration and by the Council's
capacity to re-house the persons to be displaced. Although
it is hoped to deal with these areas within the next twenty
years, no definite indication can be given as to commencing
dates in any instance.
Overcrowding
Since the end of the war, it has been felt that the
rigid enforcement of the overcrowding standards in the
Housing Act, 1936, is impracticable and, therefore, the
Public Health Committee approved a scheme for dealing with
the worst cases in the first place. The Committee adopted a
Modified Standard which involved increasing the "permitted
numbers" 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 refusedo
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.
Category 1+. As in Category 3» but without
special medical circumstances.
Cases within Categories 1,2 and 3 have been considered
by a special Sub-Committee of the Public Health Committee
which was established for that purpose. Cases within
Category k have not been reported but records have been
made and the families are kept under observation by the