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50
Proposed Maternity and Child Welfare Centre and Day Nursery
in Bessborough Street.
Mention was made in last year's report of the measures taken by the
Council to replace the existing Maternity and Child Welfare Centre, at 15
Bessborough Street, by a modern building on the site of Nos. 1, 3, 5 and 7,
Bessborough Street, adjoining the Westminster Housing Trust's Tachbrook
Housing Estate.
In considering the type of building to be erected, the City Council had
regard to the inadequacy of the day nursery accommodation in the City,
and decided to provide on the upper floors of the proposed new building
accommodation for a day nursery to be administered by the same
voluntary body, the Westminster Day Nursery Committee, who at
present conduct the small day nursery at 147, Warwick
Street. This in due course will be given up at the expiry of the lease.
Mr. F. Milton Harvey, A.R.I.B.A., A.M.I.C.E., the architect for the
adjoining Tachbrook Housing Estate, was retained to design the building.
The Public Health and Maternity and Child Welfare Committee of the
Council appointed a Sub-Committee to deal with the matter and, in
order to attain the fullest co-operation with the Westminster Day Nursery
Committee, co-opted four members of the latter at the outset. This
Sub-Committee held several meetings during the year and the members
were each given the sketch plans and an opportunity of submitting
their individual observations. Valuable suggestions were thus obtained
and incorporated in the plans. The plans were subsequently informally
submitted to the experts of the Ministry of Health, who kindly made
some valuable suggestions, with the result that further important
improvements were made. Ultimately, the draft scheme was submitted
and approved by the Council, and the accompanying reproduction of the
elevation and drawings show that the proposed building, when completed,
will be one of the best of its kind. The following is a brief
description of the accommodation to be provided.
Basement.—The existing vaults will be reconstructed and utilised
for storing the perambulators of the children brought to the Day Nursery.
In the basement will be a laundry and drying room, cleaners' room, fuel
store and central heating chamber and other storage accommodation.
Ground, Floor.—This floor is laid out as a maternity and child welfare
centre. The main entrance is centrally situated, but a separate entrance
is provided for expectant mothers so that they may directly enter the
waiting room provided for them on the south side, and proceed from