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living in premises that are so frequently polluted with smoke and particles from
anything up to 28 engines under steam for many hours. It was suggested at one
time that the area should be included as a slum clearance area. This however,
is not possible, for an area can only be represented as a slum clearance area
if the houses in the area are unfit for human habitation or are by reason of
their bad arrangements or the narrowness or bad arrangement of the streets,
injurious to the health of the inhabitants. To be unfit for human habitation a
house must be so far defective in one or more of the undermentioned matters as
not to be reasonably suitable for occupation in that condition;-
(a) Repair
(b) Stability
(c) Freedom from damp
(d) Natural lighting
(e) Ventilation
(f) Water supply
(g) Drainage and sanitary conveniences
(h) Facilities for storage, preparation and
cooking of food and for the disposal of
waste water,
We are advised, therefore that on legal grounds one could not represent
the Gloucester Avenue area as a slum clearance area On the other hand I think
that consideration should be given to the possibility of re-housing the people
in the area, even if it means some delay in the slum clearance programme: and
in the end this may prove the most practical method of dealing with one of the
most long lasting and serious nuisances in the borough
Special Reports
During the last few years various duties have fallen upon the Public Health
Department and I am submitting special reports on some of these -
Fireguards
Protection of the public against the dangers inherent in unguarded
electric, gas and paraffin fires is afforded by the Heating Appliances
(Fireguards) Act. 1952 This Act makes it an offence for any person
to sell expose for sale or let under a hire purchase agreement any
relevant domestic heating appliance which is not fitted with a guard
of the required standard The Secretary of State is authorised to
make regulations defining standards and tests in respect of new and
second hand gas electric and oil heaters
On the 24th March 1953 the Home Secratary made the appropriate
regulations and these became operative on the 1st October of that
year Fires manufactured before that date are exempt from the new
requirements for a period of one year, but after 1st October 1954
all fires offered for sale, of whatever age, have to comply. Every
heating appliance (other than a totally enclosed oil convector heater)
must be fitted with a guard securely fixed to the heater and of
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