View report page

62
Cusack-place, Gareth-place and Porloctc-place area, Bermondsey.
The medical officer of health of the Metropolitan Borough of Bermondsey, Dr. R. K. Brown, has made an
official representation, dated 11th November, 1904, under Part I. of the Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890,
in respect of an area comprising Cusack-placc, Gareth-place, and a part of Porlock-place within the borough.
The area comprises about 44 houses situated at the rear of premises on the eastern side of Crosby-row, between
Snow's-fields and Long-lane, Bermondsey. The houses are surrounded by high buildings on every side and have
insufficient space at the front and rear, some of them having no back yards at all.
We are of opinion that the area is too small to be dealt with as an unhealthy area under Part I. of the Housing
of the Working Classes Act, 1890, and it appears to us that if the evils complained of cannot be satisfactorily remedied
by the exercise of the powers vested in the borough council under the provisions of Part II. of the Act relating to
closing and demolition orders and the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, such scheme of reconstruction as may be
deemed necessary should be undertaken by the borough council in the manner provided by section 39 (1) (b) of the
Housing Act. That section provides that where it appears to the local authority that the closeness, narrowness and
bad arrangement or bad condition of any buildings, or the want of light, air, ventilation or proper conveniences, or
any other sanitary defect in any buildings is prejudicial to the health of the said or neighbouring buildings, and that
the demolition or reconstruction and re-arrangement of the said buildings or of some of them is necessary to remedy
the evils, and that the area comprising the buildings is too small to be dealt with under Part I. of the Act, the local
authority shall pass a resolution to that effect and direct a scheme to be prepared for the improvement of the area. As
the size of the area does not justify its being considered as of importance to the county of London as a whole, we
think that the Council should adopt the procedure prescribed by section 73 (1) (6) of the Act of 1890, as amended
by the Order in Council, made in accordance with the provisions of section 2 of the Act of 1903, transferring the
powers and duties of the Home Office under the Housing Acts to the Local Government Board. Under this section
the Council may resolve that an area officially represented under Part I. of the Act is not of general importance to
the county of London and should be dealt with under Part II. of the Act, and such resolution may be submitted to
the Local Government Board. The Board may then institute an inquiry if they deem such a course necessary, and
may, under section 73 (2), make an order pointing out the way in which the area should be dealt with.
Brady-street area and Digby-street area, Bethnal-green.—These areas were represented by the medical
officer of health of Bethnal-green under Part I. of the Housing of the Working Classes Act and
on the consideration of these representations by the Housing of the Working Classes Committee of the
London County Council the Committee was of opinion that in the case of the Brady-street area, having
regard to the prospect of the area being redeveloped by private enterprise, they did not see their way
to recommend the Council to deal with the area under Part I. of the Act. In the case of the Digbystreet
area, the Committee received a deputation on the subject, and the borough council subsequently
decided to deal with the area under Part II. of the Act. Dr. Bate now reports that no advance has been
made towards the clearing of these two areas. In November, 1905, he represented four houses in
Little Collingwood-street in the Brady-street area, under Part II. of the Act", repairs, however, were
effected and no order for demolition was made.
Proceedings under Part II. of the Act.
Chapel-grove and Eastnor-place schemes, St. Pancras.—In August, the Local Government Board
issued an Order confirming these schemes which are being carried out by the St. Pancras Metropolitan
Borough Council. The estimated net cost of the Chapel-grove scheme is £32,970 13s. 9d. and accommodation
is to be provided for 400 persons in lieu of 501 to be displaced. The estimated net cost of the
Eastnor-place scheme is £9,224 4s. 8d. and dwellings are to be provided for 100 persons in lieu of 189
to be displaced. The County Council contributes one-third of the net cost of these schemes.
Scheme undertaken by a district council under Part II. of the Act, the County Council contributing to the
cost.
Prospect-terrace and Brantome- place scheme, St. Pancras.—Dr. Sykes reports with respect to the
Prospect-terrace area included in this scheme, that negotiations have still been proceeding for the
acquisition of the roadway from the Rectors of St. George-the-Martyr and St. George, Bloomsbury,
and arbitration as to purchase has been withdrawn.
Proceedings under Part III. of the Act.
Norbury estate.—In February, the Council accepted a tender for the erection of fifty-two cottages
on a part of section A of this estate for the sum of £13,176 and for the erection of three other blocks containing
forty-two cottages at the schedule of prices contained in the tender.
Brixton.—In April, the Council approved an estimate of £29,000 for the erection of Briscoebuildings
on Brixton-hill, to accommodate 718 persons in three five storey-blocks of buildings containing
10 tenements of two rooms, 73 of three rooms, and 30 of four rooms.
White Hart-lane Estate. — In June, the Council sanctioned expenditure of £13,919 for the
erection of 60 cottages on section G of this estate, viz-: 28 with five rooms, 8 with four rooms, and
24 with three rooms, and in December, sanctioned expenditure of £30,430 for the erection of 122 cottages
on the first part of the Tower-gardens section, viz., 32 with five rooms, 44 with four rooms and 46
with three rooms.
Wedmore-street, Holloway.—In July, the Housing of the Working Classes Committee reported
the completion of the third block of Wessex-buildings for 340 persons in 40 tenements of two rooms
and 30 of three rooms, making, altogether on the Wedmore-street site, accommodation for 1,050 persons
in 5 tenements of one room, 140 of two rooms and 80 of three rooms.
Housing in connection with street improvements.
Fulham Palace-road and High-street, Fulliam.—In August the Council authorised expenditure
of £10,475 for the erection of Bearcroft-buildings in connection with this improvement.
Rotherhithe Tunnel.—In February, the Housing of the AV orking Classes Committee reported the
completion of dwellings erected in Swan-lane on the south side of the Thames in connection with displacements
in the construction of this Tunnel, and in August the Council accepted a tender of £14,105