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enables the enquirer to assess the degree of priority to be given to
the applicants concerned. In each case a visit was made by the
Public Health Inspector and a report furnished.
Slum Clearance Programme.
On the 4th July, 1957, the Paddington Borough Council declared
an area, to be known as the Braithwaite Place and Adpar Street
Area, a clearance area. The area consists of 8-11 (consec.) Adpar
Street, 32-38 (even) and 7-25 and 29-35 (odd) Hall Place, 1-9 (consec.)
Hall Place West, 2-13 (consec.) Braithwaite Place and 168-174 (even)
Church Street.
The area is approximately 1.316 acres in extent and the properties
comprise 45 dwelling houses and two shops with residential upper
parts (one shop being derelict).
On the 6th January, 1958, the Council made the Paddington
Borough Council (Braithwaite Place and Adpar Street) Compulsory
Purchase Order, 1958. The order included the lands in the clearance
area and about 0.693 acres of adjoining lands to be acquired. In
addition the Council already own some 0.362 acres in the area. It is
anticipated that about 210 families will be displaced from the
clearance area and adjoining lands and the London County Council
have agreed to accept responsibility for the rehousing of fifty per
cent, of these.
On the 17th June, 1958, the Minister of Housing and Local
Government held a Public Enquiry to hear objections to the Order
and at the end of the year the Minister's decision was being awaited.
Houses Unfit for Human Habitation.
No. of basement rooms dealt with by closing orders 1,300 (362)
No. of upper rooms closed 110 (22)
No. of mews premises closed 16 (7)
No. of houses dealt with by closing orders (Local
Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act,
1953) — (—)
No. of houses dealt with by demolition orders or in
respect of which undertakings were accepted — (—)
One hundred and thirty-six (93) persons were displaced as a
result of the Council's operations.
Closing Orders were determined or undertakings cancelled on
55 (57) basement rooms. No (3) upper rooms and no (7) mews
premises had Orders determined or undertakings cancelled.
Fifty-eight (46) other basement rooms but no (2) mews premises
were made fit without recourse to formal proceedings.
Of the 1,300 basement rooms, 110 upper rooms and 16 mews
premises closed, 1,227 basement rooms and 107 upper rooms were
in premises de-requisitioned by the Council under the Requisitioned
Houses and Housing (Amendment) Act, 1955. During the time that
the rooms were under the Council's control they were considered to
be unfit for housing purposes and were not used for that purpose.
The closing orders were made to ensure that the position was
maintained. One mews premises was also closed on de-requisition
by the Council.