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95
The represented areas were 131 acres in extent and comprised
39 houses, including 2 workshops, a garage and 2 stores. The
additional lands were 117 acres in extent, and comprised 18 houses,
including 3 shops, a beerhouse, a lock-up shop, a shop and workshop,
a shop-fitting works, 3 builders' yards and a garage. The total area
was 248 acres and the displacement of 249 persons of the workingclasses
was involved.
The London County Council has decided that in view of the
limited amount of new accommodation available in the north-west
district of London, it is proposed to utilise the whole of the accommodation
to be provided in the Kilburn Vale areas for rehousing purposes
in connection with clearance operations under the Housing Act,
1930, which takes precedence over the abatement of overcrowding.
The Kilburn Vale Area was first condemned in 1903 by Dr.
Herbert Littlejohn, the Medical Officer of Health for Hampstead,
who made an official representation under Part I of the Housing of
the Working Classes Act, 1890. This representation was considered
by the London County Council who resolved that the Area was not of
general importance to the County of London, and should be dealt
with under Part II of the Act. In 1905 the Housing Committee of
the County Council, in reply to an inquiry as to whether, in the event
of the Borough Council dealing with the Area, they would contribute
towards the cost of a scheme under Part II, replied that they could
not see their way to recommend that Council to do so. In these
circumstances the houses in the area were referred to the Public
Health Committee to deal with and steps were taken to effect those
improvements that were possible under the Public Health (London)
Act, 1891. Notices were served and a measure of improvement was
secured; certain houses were demolished and replaced by proper
dwellings; while others were renovated.
At the close of the Great War the Area again came under consideration
when the Borough Council contemplated acquiring it for
the purpose of a Housing Scheme, and in 1920 my predecessor represented
the Area as being suitable for dealing with by means of a
Scheme under Part II of the Act of 1890. The Borough Council
thereupon passed the appropriate resolution directing that a Scheme