View report page

39
Thames Street (No. 1) and Aboukir Cottages (No. 2), the Minister
decided to hold a public inquiry into the subject matter of the
Orders and this was held in the Town Hall in November, 1933.
Evidence in support of the Confirmation of the Orders was given by
the Valuer of the L.C.C., by a Medical Officer of the L.C.C., and
myself, whilst objections to the scheme were made by various owners
and occupiers. Several tenants gave evidence to the effect that they
had been living in the houses for a number of years, and did not
desire to move where a higher rental would probably be required.
Following the Public Inquiry the Ministry of Health Inspector
spent several days visiting the areas and at the close of his inspection personally thanked your officers for " their great courtesy and
assistance." At the close of the year the decision of the Minister
of Health had not come to hand. The combined areas comprised
156 houses with a population of 713. It was stated at the Inquiry
that accommodation for the first batch of displaced tenants would be
found on the L.C.C. Estates at Evelyn Street, Deptford, and on the
Honor Oak Estate.
With regard to work carried out on individual houses, it might
be mentioned here that under the various sections of Part II of
the Housing Act a considerable amount of work was initiated during
the year. Good progress is being made and the work is expected to
be completed during the following year. The following may be
quoted : —
Knott Street.—Nos. 39 to 51 (7 houses)
Berthon Street.—Nos. 2 to 40 (20 houses)
Creek Road.—Nos. 77 to 119 (16 houses)
London Street.—Nos. 9, 13 and 15 (3 houses).
Of the above work in 32 instances the alteration and repairs
were agreed to without resort to the serving of Notices which indicates to some extent the close co-operation that exists between agents,
owners and the Public Health Department. The procedure now
generally adopted is, after a preliminary survey, to invite the owner
or agent to a consultation either on the site or at the Public Health
Office and after considering the house or houses in question to
invite them to carry out voluntarily the reconditioning necessary.
Many agents appear to welcome this step and some have themselves
drawn attention to other portions of their property, for after all it
is evident that it is not in the interest of House Agents generally to
allow property to degenerate to such a condition as might call for
the application of a clearance scheme. At the close of the year
negotiations initiated by the Trustees of the Hatcliffe Estate were
commenced and it is confidently expected that during next year a
considerable amount of this property will have been reconditioned.