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4
The other areas are being dealt with by the Borough Council and,
in accordance with the priority need determined, the emphasis at the present
time is on clearing and re-developing the Kensal New Town area. Work in
this area has been divided into phases, the first of which covers an area
consisting of 6½ acres out of a total of 21 acres. The Council have obtained
the confirmation by the Minister of Housing and Local Government of five
compulsory purchase orders in this phase, subject to minor modifications.
Demolition of the slum houses has taken place and work is proceeding
on the erection of two 14-storey blocks (each containing 78 flats), and two
4-storey blocks (containing maisonettes and flats), plus 24 garages. It is
expected that the two "tower" blocks of flats will be ready for occupation by
August, 1960, and the remaining part of the development should be completed
early in 1961.
In this connection it is my pleasure to record that on 10th June,
1959 the Rt. Hon. Henry Brooke, Minister of Housing and Local Government, was
accompanied on a tour of inspection of the work in progress by His Worship
the Mayor of Kensington (Councillor A. N. McHaffie) together with Members of
the Council and Chief Officers. In a letter dated 15th June, 1959, addressed
to His Worship the Mayor, the Minister expressed his appreciation of the
opportunity of seeing the way in which the Council are tackling their housing
problem in North Kensington.
Progress in dealing with Phase I of the Kensal New Town clearance
area has been satisfactory, but the project of dealing with the total area of
21 acres is, at the present time, complicated by the London County Council's
desire to bring into the development an area, immediately north of the 21 acres,
situated in the borough of Paddington. The complications arise because of
Town Planning considerations, involving possible construction of new roads
and open spaces in the combined area. Negotiations between the two authorities
concerned are still in progress and it is hoped that an agreed plan will be
made in the near future.
Because of the threat of demolition in the next year or two, a few
owners have allowed their property to deteriorate, through lack of maintenance
and repairs, to the extent that the question of dealing with the unfitness of
these houses has become an urgent problem. As a temporary expedient the
Council have decided to deal with these isolated properties (to secure their
demolition or closure) in advance of the clearance area procedure under Part III
of the Housing Act, 1957.
One other area, consisting of the 16 unfit properties in Portland
Road, has also been dealt with, and the Council have approved plans for the
construction of 22 new dwellings suitable for occupation by old people.
Clean Air Act. In connection with the duties of Local Authorities
to declare their areas, or parts thereof, to be Smoke Control Areas (in which
the emission of smoke from any chimney is prohibited), the Minister of Housing
and Local Government requested Authorities (Circular 5/59 dated 26th January,
1959) to make faster progress in this work, especially in "black areas" where
pollution is worst. The whole of London is a black area, and Councils were
asked to prepare a programme indicating the order of priority in making Smoke
Control Orders to cover the whole district. The Minister also asked to be
informed of the specific details of the work proposed for the first five years.
The Council decided in principle to extend this work over 15 years
to cover the whole borough, and the details of the first five years, as
submitted to the Minister, will be found on page 20 of this Report.
Although the work involved in making Smoke Control Areas involves a
considerable amount of detail in making surveys and keeping records, good
progress has been made.
Three Smoke Control Orders have been made by the Council covering
the whole of the Holland Ward in the central part of the borough, and a survey
is progressing with the object of making a further Order in respect of the
southern half of the Pembridge Ward in North Kensington.