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3
Although no new slum clearance area was formally
represented during 1953, the Council did decide to deal with
the Treverton Street area (which had been earmarked for
clearance), by acquiring the houses under Part V of the Housing
Act, 1936. This proposal has been approved by the Minister of
Housing and Local Government and when the rebuilding scheme is
completed, it will effect a worthwhile improvement in the St.
Charles Ward of the borough.
The development of Kensington was in the main accomplished
in the middle of the nineteenth century and, although new
buildings have been erected since that time, it is true to say
that a large proportion of the housing in the borough is
approaching the end of its useful life.
Between 1840 and 1870, the population of Kensington
increased from 26,834 to 120,299, and the rateable value
increased from approximately £140,000 to £900,000. Whilst
most of the houses built in this period were of much better
construction and design than the old and small cottage-type
property which one generally associates with slums, it is a
fact that modern amenities are lacking. Reference to the
extracts from the 1951 Census appearing on pages 19-23
reveals that there are many households in Kensington which do
not possess normal amenities such as separate baths, water
closets, kitchen sinks, etc. Moreover, because of economic
circumstances, during the war and since, works of repair and
improvements to these houses have been kept at a minimum.
Therefore, any improvement in procedure for dealing with these
houses, which the new Housing Repairs and Rents Bill will effect
will be most welcome and it is hoped that a new impetus will be
given to the Council's work of securing and maintaining proper
and fit standards of habitation in the borough.
The Housing Repairs and Rents Bill will require all local
authorities to prepare their proposals regarding the action to
be taken in respect of unfit houses, and at the present time
preliminary work is being undertaken in anticipation of the
Bill being passed in its present form.
Old People's Welfare. The welfare work in relation to
old people is developing satisfactorily and is proving to be
one of the more important post-war developments in public health
work. The need for the service is emphasised by the increasing
longevity of people.
The age distribution of the population of Kensington, as
revealed in the 1951 Census, is illuminating when compared with
the corresponding figures for fifty years ago. To-day 11% of
the population of Kensington are aged 65 years or over,
compared with 4.9% of the population in 1901; in other words
there are approximately 10,000 more people in Kensington aged
65 years or over than there were in 1901. The age distribution
is indicated below:-
Census of
Proportion of population aged
Actual
Population
0-4
5 - 14
15-44
45 - 64
65 & over
1951 6.4% 8.3% 49.7% 24.6% 11.0% 168,160
1901 8.1% 14.65% 55.5% 16.85% 4.9% 176,628