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65
Lee Church Street Clearance Area
The public inquiry into the Compulsory Purchase Order in respect
of these areas was held at the Town Hall on June 16. The Council's
case was stated and the arguments of four objectors were put before the
Ministry of Housing and Local Government's Inspector, who later
visited the areas concerned.
The Order has been confirmed by the Minister with slight modifications
in that the compensation for the acquisition of two houses
(1, Fludyer Street and 33, Boone Street) and a house, shop and yard
(49, Lee Church Street) will be assessed upon existing use value
instead of site value only. The Minister has further directed that
payments under section 42 of the Housing Act, 1936 be made by the
Council in respect of certain houses which, although unfit, had been
well maintained.
A scheme is now being prepared for the redevelopment of the
whole area for housing purposes, and steps are being taken to acquire
the lands included in the Order, to cause the buildings thereon to be
vacated, to carry out such rehousing as is necessary and to build on
the lands so acquired.
Slum clearance programme, 1956-60
By agreement between the London county council and this Council
the responsibility for carrying out the first five-year programme of slum
clearance so far as it affects this borough is being shared between the
two authorities. The programme is well in hand and an enquiry has
been received from the Clerk of the county council as to whether the
borough council is prepared to continue its cooperation in slum
clearance for a second five-year period.
With the approval of the health committee a provisional list of
properties suitable for inclusion in the proposed slum clearance
programme for 1956/60 has been prepared and forwarded to the County
Council for consideration.
Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1953
Two sections of this Act affect the work of a health department.
Under section 10 a local authority can make a Closing Order in respect
of a whole house where the making of a Demolition Order would be to
the detriment of the adjoining property. Such a closing order can be
revoked at any time and a demolition order substituted in place thereof.
Section 11 extends until 14 July, 1954 the time within which an owner
of a house in respect of which a demolition order became operative before
1 January, 1946 may apply to have such Order quashed on the ground
that as a the result of subsequent works the house is now fit for human
habitation. The local authority is empowered in cases where a demolition
order has been made before 14 July, 1953 and where it is considered
inexpedient to enforce compliance with the Order owing to the effect
of demolition upon adjoining property, to revoke the demolition order
and make a closing order in place thereof,