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72
east side of Vauxhall Bridge Road by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners.
Since 1902 there has been a net decrease of about 150
working-class rooms in this district. The rents in Westminster
are much higher than in other parts of London, and sub-letting
necessarily prevails in working-class houses. The average rents
range from 4s. 5d. for one room to 28s. for a house of ten rooms.
It may perhaps be contended that, in view of these facts, the
Council should in this case make specific provision for the accommodation
of the persons now residing in the premises proposed to
be demolished, but it should be borne in mind that, owing mainly
to the general movement of the residents in the central districts
towards the suburbs, the population of the County now shows a
tendency to decline, and that this movement is likely to continue.
This tendency of the community to spread itself, encouraged by the
provision of improved means of transit at low rates, we regard as a
healthy one, and we are strongly of opinion that it would be unwise
for the Council to undertake at the present time the erection of
working class dwellings in the central districts unless there are
very special reasons to the contrary. Any such accommodation
must necessarily be of the block dwelling type, and we feel that
the housing operations of the Council are better directed towards
the development of its suburban cottage estates than in the erection
of tenement dwellings, the demand for which, we fear, may in the
future fall short of the supply. We shall, as we have always done,
keep close observation upon the need for housing accommodation in
this and other parts of London, and, should the necessity arise, it
will always be open for the Council to carry out building operations
under Part III of the Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890."
Westminster (Millbank) Improvement.—This improvement, which is
being carried on by the County Council, proceeds slowly. Most of the
buildings in Millbank have been pulled down, and the main line low
level sewer has been diverted, and a considerable part of the land in the
neighbourhood of Smith's Square has been re-let for good class buildings,
but other parts of the scheme have been delayed while consideration
is given to the question of rebuilding Lambeth Bridge.
Water Supply.
Applications were received for certificates that the water supply of
seven new buildings (15 dwellings) was sufficient, and were granted in
each instance. 87 notices of withdrawal of water supply were received
from the Metropolitan Water Board, and in 30 instances it was reinstated,
on notice. Additional sources of water supply on the upper floors of
tenement houses were provided in 143 instances. Legal proceedings in