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48
the buildings; and as these buildings have no other open space, and most
frequently have dwellings over, it follows that the whole of the sanitary arrangements
are inside the house, a very undesirable conditiou.
The position of houses in a Mews differs fundamentally from that of houses
in an ordinary street, as they possess no open space in the rear, the open space
having been originally provided in front for the use of the occupants. Where the
Mews becomes public, manure receptacles, dust receptacles, drain manholes,
gullies, or other sanitary conveniences are not allowed to be placed in the
open space in front. The reason for this unsatisfactory proceeding on behalf
of the Sanitary Autherity appears to be because a Mews, when it comes
to be included in the term "street" is treated like a "street" of a totally different
kind. The remedy for this appears to be either to cause the owners to provide
open spaces in recesses for their sanitary conveniences in lieu of the open space
appropriated by the Autherity, or else for the Autherity to allow the owners to
retain certain privileges over the open space on conditions set out in an
undertaking.
The attention of the Highways, Sewers, and Public Works Committee was
directed to the unsatisfactory procedure of placing manure receptacles, dust
receptacles, drain manholes, gullies, and other sanitary conveniences inside houses
in Public Mews contrary to the metheds adopted in Private Mews, and they have
been urged to assist in the modification of this procedure, in the direction
of improved sanitary requirements, protecting the Vestry by the necessary
undertaking.
Number of Rooms in Dive/lings.—As indicating the kind of new dwelling
accommodation being provided in London, the last Report of the Improved
Industrial Dwellings Company, Limited, furnishes useful information. That
Company has provided —
'28 Tenements of 6 Rooms.
320 „ 5 „
1,680 „ 4 „
2,947 „ 3 „
379 „ 2 „
28 ,, 1 Room
132 Shops.
46 Workshops.
5,560
Each tenement is structurally severed, and contains separate domestic
conveniences, such as kitchen or scullery, water-supply, closet, coal-place, etc.
Conversion of Buildings.—The London County Council has made the following
important Rules as to the Conversion of Buildings under the London Building
Act, 1894, section 211.
Unless in any case the Council otherwise allow, no person shall—
1—Convert into or use as a dwelling-house any building or part of a building
not originally constructed for human habitation;