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62
Particulars concerning Inspection of Tenement Houses are given in Table 6 on page 113.
The 247 houses and flats mentioned at the beginning of this Section as having been
erected during the year comprised the following:—
57 flats built by the St. Pancras House Improvement Society, Ltd., Athlone House
(10) in Wilkin Street, and St. Nicholas Flats (47) in Clarendon Street; 80 flats by the Commissioners
of Crown Lands (Swinley House in Redhill Street); 38 flats, West Hill Court,
Highgate; 5 flats, The Old Well House, The Grove, Highgate; 27 flats by Mr. G. Burgoyne
in Johnson Street; 34 flats (Regency House), 22/6, Osnaburgh Street; and 6 flats on the
site of 4-8, Grange Road.
HOUSING CONDITIONS.
Considerable attention was given to the above subject during the year by the appropriate
Committees.
The Circular 1331 issued by the Ministry of Health expressed the opinion that the
present rate at which the slums were being dealt with was too slow, and that concerted effort
between the central government and the local authorities concerned to ensure a speedier end
was desirable.
In connection with the above a conference was held between representatives of the
Borough Council and the London County Council at which housing conditions in the Borough
were considered.
In the course of the proceedings it appeared to be generally accepted that no serious
slum conditions existed in St. Pancras, but that the Borough presented possibilities for dealing
with Improvement Areas by reconditioning at a future date.
A number of areas were mentioned by the representatives of the Borough Council,
which, it was suggested, were suitable to be dealt with either as Clearance Areas or by
Clearance Orders.
It was intimated that in due course the London County Council might deal with two
of the areas, but the others should be dealt with by the Borough Council, and the necessary
steps are now being taken.
A printed report on housing conditions, with special reference to Ward 2 was issued
and widely circulated during the year by the North St. Pancras Group of the St. Pancras
House Improvement Society, Ltd. As the description given in the report was considered to
be exaggerated, and in some respects inaccurate, the following report was submitted to the
Council and is reprinted here for reference:—
To the Chairman and Members of the Public Health Committee.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Housing Conditions in Ward 2.
A report has recently been published which purports to describe housing conditions in
Ward 2, but this report cannot be regarded as an accurate representation of existing conditions.
In compiling the report it may have been considered permissible, for propaganda purposes,
and in order to enlist sympathy, interest, and financial help, to emphasize the worst aspects of
the area, but a report on these lines may, perhaps, be regarded as somewhat ill-advised.