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55
1937
Underground Rooms.—Progress continued during the year in making underground
rooms comply with the Regulations of the Council made under section 18 (1)
of the Housing Act, 1925. Upon a basement room becoming empty an intimation
is forwarded to the owner that the room does not comply with the Regulations
governing underground rooms. As a result of this action 275 underground rooms
were made fit.
Closing Orders were made in respect of an additional 274 underground rooms.
The majority of these rooms remained closed for human habitation but in 63 cases
the rooms were made to comply with the Regulations and the Closing Orders were
determined. In two cases where Undertakings had been given under the 1930
Housing Act that the rooms would not be used for sleeping purposes, the Undertakings
were cancelled as the rooms were rendered fit for human habitation.
Demolition Orders.- Five Demolition Orders were made with respect to the
following premises:—
2 and 4, Muriel Street.
25, Wedmore Street.
12 and 14, Newington Green Road.
Undertakings were accepted that the premises would not be used for the purposes
of human habitation with respect to:—
130, Devonshire Road Annex.
192 and 194, Blackstock Road.
Of these premises 25, Wedmore Street, 12 and 14, Newington Green Road and
1, 2, 3 and 4, Webb's Cottages were demolished. These latter cottages were the
subject of Demolition Orders during the preceding year.
Demolition of Habitable Dwellings.—During the year 314 houses have been
demolished, on the sites of 71 of these new business or non-domestic premises have
been erected.
Housing Accommodation—London County Council.—Seven hundred and
forty-seven applications for housing accommodation on London County Council
estates were dealt with during the year. 392 were direct applications referred back
by the L.C.C. for investigation and 355 were applications made through the Public
Health Department.
As a result of the visits made by the Sanitary Inspectors it was found that 420
families were living in overcrowded conditions, and "orange forms" recommending
preferential treatment on these grounds were forwarded to the Valuer. Included
in the overcrowded cases were 10 families in which there was a notified case of
tuberculosis.
Sixty-eight blue forms, where there was chronic ill-health but no overcrowding,
were submitted, 47 of which were on the grounds of tuberculosis. Bronchitis,
rheumatism, and heart disease were the grounds on which the remaining recommendations
were made.
There were no grounds for special treatment in 192 cases but the L.C.C. were
asked to give consideration to these applicants if accommodation were available.
The remaining 67 families were found to be occupying basement rooms subject
to representations under the Housing Act, 1936.
On the above recommendations 165 families so far have been re-housed. Fortytwo
in the Borough and 123 on estates outside Islington.