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open spaces, children's playgrounds and other amenities which are
essential to a well balanced community.
In the areas of other Local Authorities parts of the "Green Belt"
surrounding London have already been taken for housing purposes, thus
further extending the spread of London urban development.
Some reduction in population will doubtless be achieved when it is
possible for restrictions on building licences to be eased or rescinded as
many of the applicants for licences who are willing to build outside the
borough are now living with relatives who would be unlikely to take other
families into their homes.
Requisitioned properties. As the law now stands requisitioned properties
will have to be given up by December 1952, and people rehoused
in such properties cannot properly be regarded as off the the waiting list.
There are at present 832 units of accommodation under requisition in
Hornsey and a difficult situation is likely to result when the properties
have to revert to their original owners. Few, if any, of the applicants on
the housing waiting list can be considered after 1952 apart from those
which can be dealt with by the normal casual vacancies which arise.
DEMOLITION AND CLOSING ORDERS
Housing Act, 1936 Sections 11 and 12.
Elsewhere in this report I have referred to the question of "reasonable
expense" in making a house fit for human habitation. Where the local
authority are satisfied that a house is not capable of being rendered fit at
reasonable expense they shall consider the question of demolition.
Demolition Orders in respect of seven dwelling houses were made by
the Health Committee during the year. The properties were as follows:—
17 Haringey Road.
54, 56, 58, 60, 62 Park Road.
16 Ennis Road.
Closing Orders were considered in respect of the underground rooms
at 24 and 26 Myddelton Road. In the case of No. 24 the Order was not
made as the owner agreed to carry out work approved by the Council for
rendering the basement fit; this work to be commenced as soon as the
Council rehoused the tenant.
There is very little doubt that many other properties in the Borough
could be dealt with under these Sections, but in view of the rehousing
difficulties action is taken only in the most urgent cases.
The following tables indicate the properties on which demolition and
closing orders have been made or considered from 1947 to 1950 and the
position at the 31st December 1950:—
27