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99
Ebury Bridge District—Proposed additional accommodation.—Towards
the end of the year a scheme for the erection of 296 flats was under
discussion. The site adjoins the Ebury Bridge Housing Estate and lies
to the south of it. The area of land, some 3.3 acres in extent, belongs
partly to the Council, while the remainder extends over Ross Street and
a few adjoining properties. The existing cottages in Ross Street arc
regarded as unfit for habitation and would have become the subject of a
clearance scheme some three years ago had circumstances been favourable.
A clearancc order was made on 20th July. 1933, and during 1934 the entire
area will be cleared of houses. The erection of the new flats will then
proceed rapidly.
Slum Clearance and New Housing.—Some critics have found grounds
for regret that housing subsidies are now confined to slum clearance,
but surely the kernel of the housing problem is the riddance of slum
houses. It is in the slum houses that one finds by far the greatest proportion
of overcrowded cases. In order to qualify for the Government
subsidy new accommodation must be available or provided and must be
sufficient to house families in a capacity of 12/3? persons per room and at
rents which the slum dwellers can pay. Is this not the equivalent of
additional housing for overcrowded slum dwellers ?
The Objects of New Housing in Westminster.—These are to provide for the
dwellers of scheduled clearance areas and for those families living in overcrowded
or otherwise illegal conditions who require to live near to their
work in Westminster. It must be assumed that they are unable by
reason of lack of resources to obtain suitable accommodation otherwise
than in dwellings owned by the municipality, the rent of which is insufficient
to meet annual charges, the resulting deficit being met out of public
funds. It is fantastic to imagine that housing can and should be provided
for all who work in Westminster. That would envisage housing a population
of perhaps half a million people and would require the replacement
by working class dwellings of the business places where the people themselves
work. This surely is rcductio ad absurdum.
Clearance Areas.—In June of this year four areas comprising a total of
68 houses were reported by the Medical Officer of Health to the City Council
as areas which should be cleared at the earliest opportunity. They are:—
(1) Tylers Court.
(2) Ross Street.
(3) Douglas Place.
(4) Trinity Mews.