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56
In all, Orders have been made in respect of 99 premises, and in
addition 61 representations were under consideration at the end of the
year
Slum Clearance
In the first few years of recovery from the affects of the
second world war it was impossible to carry out any measures of slum
clearance because of the shortage of labour and materials although
many areas in Finsbury, as elsewhere, had even before the war been
earmarked to be dealt with in this way and had by the passage of time
and by neglect during the war become even more unfit.
In 1949 a careful survey of the Borough was undertaken as it was
then considered that a limited programme of slum clearance might be
initiated. As a result of this survey which did, however, not
include a house to house inspection it was found that there were very
many areas in the Borough which could be represented for clearance.
These consisted of five large areas and some 60 or more smaller areas
of varying size Altogether it was thought that there were about
1,817 unfit properties involved
Following detailed examination of the reports by the council and
conferences with the London County Council a five year programme for
1951-1955 was agreed This did not include any large areas as it was
felt that the rehousing problem would be too difficult to deal with
The areas agreed upon were as follow
1 Bastwick Street - 17 Premises
This area was dealt with by the council by way of individual
demolition orders on the remaining houses in this street and these
were finally cleared in 1954 This marked the end of some particularly
bad conditions which had existed for half century, the first
representation in regard thereto having been made by the Medical
Officer of Health to the Vestry of St. Luke's before the formation of
the Metropolitan boroughs.
2 Faulkner's Alley - 2 Premises
This area was represented in 1953 and a clearance order was made
in 1954 but the site is not yet cleared.
3 Macclesfield Place - 19 Premises
Represented in 1953, clearance order made 1954. This area has
not yet been cleared.