View report page

- 38 -
involved was fifteen, but ten of these were already in the Council's
ownership- On 15th April, 1958, a Compulsory Purchase Order was made
in respect of the five non-Council properties and the sites of three
adjoining premises were added as "grey" land. A Public Local Inquiry
was held on 23rd September, 1958, following which the Minister confirmed
the Order, with no modifications, but directed the Council to make wellmaintained
payments under Section 60 of the Housing Act, 1957, in respect
of Nos. 150 and 152, Portland Road.
Future Slum Clearance Programme
At the request of the London County Council, consideration
was given to the question of scheduling unfit houses for inclusion
in a third five-year programme, i.e. 1961/65.
The demands which will be made on the Council's resources by
the commitments already entered into, especially that of Kensal New
Town, will be such that it will not be possible to make any substantial
addition to them during the period 1961/65. There are, however, certain
premises which the Council considered. should be included in the programme
for that period. They are Nos. 375-401 (odd) Portobello Road, and
Nos. 5-11 (odd) Telford Road, and they form part of an area, known as
the Wornington Road Area which, in the opinion of the Council, should be
dealt with as a clearance area in the future.
The Council have already expressed the view that a period of
10 - 20 years would be required to deal with the Wornington Road Area,
but inspections have shown that the premises mentioned above are
seriously dilapidated, and it was considered that they should be dealt
with as soon as possible.
Accordingly Nos. 375 - 401 (odd) Portobello Road and
Noso 5-11 (odd) Telford Road, were submitted to the London County Council
for inclusion in the slum clearance programme for 1961/65.
Artificial lighting of common staircases in tenement houses and flats
Council Byelaws relating to artificial lighting of common
staircases in tenement houses and flats came into operation on 11th
March, 1958. The principal Byelaw reads as follows
The occupier of every tenement house to which these
Byelaws apply and the owner of every block of flats shall
provide adequate artificial lighting for all common
staircases:-
(a) from half an hour before sunset until 12 o'clock
midnight:-
(b) for one hour before sunrise during the months of
October, November, December, January, February
and Marsh: and
(c) at other times as and when necessary if adequate
means of natural lighting are not provided.
Housing (Financial Provisions) Act. 1958 - Improvement Grants
Owners who wish to modernise and make better use of existing
houses by improvement and conversion, may apply to the Council for a
grant towards the cost of the works of improvement or conversion.
Houses which lack modern services and amenities are well on
the way to permanent unfitness and the owners have hitherto had little
incentive to maintain them properly as they fall behind modern standards.