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43
It is extremely difficult in a built up area such as Islington to deal with individual
unfit property or the clearance of areas as one would wish. It is, however, gratifying
to see the redevelopment which has, in some measure, taken place and the flats which
it has been possible for the Borough Council and the London County Council, to
erect.
The problem of unfit underground rooms remains. With very limited accommodation
available to the Council, extreme difficulty is experienced in rehousing
families from unfit rooms or premises. Thanks are due to the London County
Council for very valuable assistance given in this respect. Revised Underground
Room Regulations were forwarded to the Minister of Housing and Local Govern'
ment during the year, which, if approved, will repeal the existing ones and make it
easier in certain respects for owners to carry out work to make such rooms comply
with the Council's requirements.
The Council during the year declared the remaining portion of Whadcoat
Street, viz. that portion between Biggerstaff Street and Seven Sisters Road and
defined as " Metropolitan Borough of Islington. Whadcoat Street (Part II) Clearance
Areas (a) and (b) " to be clearance areas in accordance with the provisions of
Part III of the Housing Act, 1936. Upon the Compulsory Purchase Orders being
confirmed by the Minister of Housing and Local Government, arrangements were
commenced to re-house the occupants prior to clearance of the area.
The Minister of Housing and Local Government, being anxious that intending
house purchasers did not, in ignorance of the Council's intentions, buy houses likely
to be included in clearance areas in the next five years or so, or likely to be the
subject of Demolition Orders, requested the Council to make from time to time
such statements as it thought proper to draw attention to their slum clearance proposals
and advise all intending house purchasers to enquire at the Town Hall whether the
property in which they are interested is, or is likely to be, affected by any such
proposals.
The rate of re-housing by the London County Council from overcrowded rooms
or unfit houses has decreased considerably due to the increased demands upon the
available accommodation arising from slum clearance activities.
In a number of cases action has had to be taken under Sections 11 and 12
respectively of the Housing Repairs and Rents Act, 1954, where houses have been
let in single rooms and gross overcrowding has arisen. Such houses are a source of
considerable income to owners who have little, if any, regard to the requirements of
Public Health.
During the year 108 notifications of intending immigrants were received from
the Commissioner of Cyprus. 40 were acceptable on housing grounds in the first
place, but 31 applications could not be recommended. No action could be taken in
15 cases because a wrong address was given, or applications were cancelled. At the
end of the year 22 applications were still under consideration. The 108 applications
refer to 284 persons, comprising 58 men, 82 women and 144 children. The 40
cases accepted included 103 persons, of whom 52 were children.
Notifications are also received from the Government of Malta where immigrants
propose to take up residence in this Country. Twelve applications were received
during the year in respect of 32 persons comprising 3 men, 9 women and 20 children.
Seven of these applications were approved, one was withdrawn, three were not
recommended, and one was still under consideration at the end of the year. The
7 approved applications included 2 men, 6 women and 10 children.