London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Finsbury 1956
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Finsbury Borough]
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37
At the end of the year certain of the flats were still in course
of construction on the Peabody Estate and City Corporation Estate
In addition, work had begun on a scheme of 211 flats to be erected by
the Council in Brunswick Close.
Basement Rooms
Steps are taken as and when necessary to prevent the re-occupation
of unsatisfactory basement rooms by making Closing Orders. When information
is received of the pending rehousing of families living in
basements, inspection of the premises is carried out to ascertain
whether the rooms could be made to comply substantially with the
Council's Regulations at reasonable expense. If not an official
Representation is made to the Council and in most cases a Closing
Order results.
Premises subject to a Closing Order are inspected annually for
the purpose of ascertaining whether any infringement of the Order has
occurred. One prosecution was successfully instituted in 1956 in respect
of the use of basement rooms in contravention of a Closing Order.
A total of 224 inspections of basement rooms were made for all purposes during the year and the following is a summary of action taken:-
| Premises | Rooms | |
|---|---|---|
| No. of closing orders in force on 1st Jan. 1956 | 84 | 140 |
| No. of Representations under consideration on 1st Jan. 1956 | 68 | 99 |
| No. of Representations made during 1956 | 39 | 70 |
| No. of Representations under consideration on 31st Dec. 1956 | 83 | 133 |
| No. of undertakings accepted | 4 | 7 |
| No. of closing orders made | 18 | 28 |
| No. of closing orders determined during 1956 | 3 | 4 |
| No. of closing orders in force on 31st Dec. 1956 | 99 | 164 |
Unfit Parts of Houses (other than Basement Rooms)
Prom time to time it has become necessary to take action in respect
of a few individual rooms in houses still regarded technically
as fit for habitation where these have for one reason or another
deteriorated in condition beyond reasonable possibility of being
rendered fit.