View report page

mix, in the local community, arising from the differing attitudes and traditions of all levels of
the social strata. Limited provision of housing to cater for other than municipal tenants has
been made by the Greater London Council and the Inner London Education Authority, and by certain
Housing Associations. With the release of large areas such as St. Katharine and London Docks,
an opportunity exists for more 'mixed development' without depriving the borough of vital land
for slum clearance purposes. The advantages of long river frontages, and proximity to Central
London, offer chances of providing 'amenity areas' including pleasure gardens, hotels,conference
centres and restaurants, which will not only attract the affluent outsider but can also serve
the indigent citizen of the borough with much needed faci1ities-and increase rateable values!
The resultant creation of a 'new image' for Tower Hamlets would also have bene f i c i al repercussions
in that it would further the holding of and perhaps immigration of vital people,
including the young, within the resident community. For some time there has been a steady drain
away, particularly of young married persons unable to find suitable living conditions in their
home borough; despite a willingness to buy their own homes and not add to the inflated waiting
list for municipal accommodation. Unless some sharing out of the multifarious and multitudinous
social problems bedevilling Tower Hamlets is soon achieved, the outward flow of talent, by a
process of dysgenic selection, will lead to further intensification of local problems. Some way
out of this impasse has to be found lest there is to be merely a new physical environment (which
is fast being achieved as is plain to all) without a concomitant effect in the social sphere.
The restructuring of the social milieu is less easy, but probably more important for the public
heal th in the long term, than good physical amenities, necessary and essential though thoy must be.
The work of the department has been maintained at a consistently high level, and provided a
service worthy of praise. My own debt to all the staff is gratefully acknowledged, as is that to
the Chairmem and Members of Committees who have always given ready encouragement to our proposals.
I am,
Yours faithfully,
R. W, WATTON
Medical Officer of Health
and Principal School Medical Officer,
May, 1970.
- 5 -