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49
HEALTH SERVICE PREMISES
the difficulties in providing new buildings to replace improvised accommodation
in church halls and other rented or requisitioned premises were referred to in the Report
for 1952. One difficulty was removed with the lifting in June of the restrictions on the
use of steel, but the need for economy continued to limit expenditure on new buildings
required to provide for additional services or the replacement of unsatisfactory centres
and those which had to be relinquished.
Building programme
Some progress was however made in the planning of new centres, the erection of new
buildings and the adaptation or improvement of existing premises.
The capital building programme for the financial year 1954/55 was submitted as
usual to the Minister of Health in December. This included only five new schemes in
view of the need to restrict proposals to those which were most urgent and because
a considerable number of projects were brought forward from earlier programmes.
The total number of projects still to be commenced is substantial, but in existing
economic circumstances it seems likely that some of these will have to be deferred.
Particulars of outstanding schemes which had previously been submitted to the Minister
for approval and of the additional five schemes are given below.
Scheme for
which
approval was
refused
Division 5—Brewhouse Lane, Stepney.—Day nursery and child welfare centre. Following
the Minister's refusal in the previous year to sanction this scheme it was finally abandoned
by the Health Committee.
Schemes
abandoned or
withdrawn
from
programme
Division 1—Fulham Babies Hospital, Broomhouse Road, Fulham.—Conversion of first floor
for additional residential accommodation. Owing to a falling demand for day nursery
places the Health Committee decided to close this nursery and the scheme was, therefore,
abandoned.
Division 3—St. Alban's School, Holbortt.—The scheme of adaptation of part of the
building as a day nursery was held up by delay in securing completion of the lease.
Meanwhile, the need for the nursery diminished and the Health Committee decided to
abandon the scheme.
Division 8—CynthiaMoseley Day Nursery, Lambeth.—The scheme for extension of the
heating system was withdrawn from the capital programme as the cost was found to
be less than 1,000. It was expected that the work would be carried out during the
financial year 1953-54.
Schemes
postponed
Division 1—Westway, Hammersmith.—Day Nursery.—This scheme was deferred owing
to a diminishing need for day nursery places. The Minister was asked to approve in
principle the erection of a maternity and child welfare and school treatment centre on
the adjacent health centre site.
Division 2—Daleham Gardens, Hampstead.—The Minister agreed to consider a modified
scheme for a combined maternity and child welfare and school treatment centre to
meet existing needs.
Division 3—Charles Lamb (Popham Road) School, Islington.—Adaptation as a maternity
and child welfare and school treatment centre. The adapted premises were intended to
replace a centre in a decontamination shelter in Tibberton Square, but in the meantime
other premises in Clephane Road (formerly used as a day nursery) became available,
and while negotiations for a lease of these premises were proceeding, the Popham Road
Scheme was in abeyance.
D*