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
Islington 1956
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington Borough]
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This is a four'Storied (including cellar) semi-detached type house comprising ten living rooms. Each letting consists of furnished accommodation and the rooms are occupied as follows :—
| Rooms by floors | Permitted Number | Units Occupying | Weekly Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Second, East | 2 | 1 | 30/' |
| Second, West | 2 | 1 | 30/' |
| Second, back | 2 | 1 | 50/- |
| Second, back addition | 1½ | 2 | 50/- |
| First, front | 2 | 2 | 50/- |
| First, back | 2 | 2 | 60/- |
| First, back addition | VACANT | ||
| Ground, front | 2 | 1 | 50/- |
| Ground, back | 2 | 3 | 70/' |
| Ground, back addition | 11 | 2 | 50/- |
As far as possible an endeavour is made by the Public Health Inspectors to
obtain compliance with the standard of overcrowding informally and 23 such cases
were resolved satisfactorily.
Clearance Areas.
The following areas were represented under Part III of the Housing Act, 1936,
for clearance, vis.:—
I, 2, 3, 4 and 5, Dibden Street.
II, 13, 15, 17 and 19, Pickering Street.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, Pierrepont Row.
In January the Minister of Housing and Local Government gave consent to the
Council's Underground Room Regulations. These are in certain instances to the
advantage of the owners who will be able to comply more easily and with less
expense than would have been the case under the previous regulations. The problem
of unfit underground rooms still remains, however.
The L.C.C. (General Powers) Act, 1956, received Royal Assent on 2nd
August this year, Section 63 of which authorises a Borough Council to make
Byelaws as to satisfactory lighting of common staircases in tenement houses and
flats.
The Council appointed two member delegates and the Chief Public Health
Inspector to attend a Housing Conference arranged by the Society for the Promotion
of Health.
Having regard to the damage done to houses by the frost which occurred in
the early months of the year and the fact that nearly 18 per cent of the large number
of Council houses investigated were affected, the Minister of Housing and Local
Government issued Circular No. 51/56. In this Circular the Minister made certain
recommendations, including (1) the revision of byelaws under the Water Act, 1945,
for safeguarding pipes, etc., from the effects of frost ; and (II) the protection of
plumbing systems against frost with particular reference to new houses.
The following were published during the year :—
Housing Subsidies Act, 1956, and Circular No. 33/56 relating thereto.
Slum Clearance (Compensation) Act, 1956, and Circular No. 43/56 relating
thereto.
Circular No. 44/56 re Slum Clearance—Simplification and acceleration of
administrative procedure.
The seventh report of the Housing Management Sub-Committee of the
Central Housing Advisory Committee, entitled " Moving from the
Slums."