View report page

19
Barrow Hill Primary School.—In order to make way for a new London County Council primary
school, tho removal of families from factory-made bungalows on the Henstridge Place site was completed
at the end of the year, 18 families being rehoused by the London County Council and three by the
Borough Council.
St. Marylebone Housing Association and Trust—Cochrane Street Extension.—Good progress was
made in the building of 24 flats by the Housing Association and Trust in co-operation with the Borough
Council, and it is anticipated that the estate will be ready for occupation early next year. The Council
will nominate the first tenants for six of the flats.
Half-way Houses.—The two half-way houses in Beaumont Street and Nottingham Place, provided
for persons in urgent need of accommodation whilst awaiting permanent homes, have been fully
occupied.
Slum Clearance.—Discussions took place during the year with the London County Council in regard
to the resumption of the work of slum clearance which had been deferred by war-time and immediate
post-war conditions. The division of responsibility between the County Council and the Borough
Council was provisionally agreed and a programme drawn up for future operations. The first steps
in this connection will be taken in 1953.
Inspection of Dwelling-Houses.—The total number of houses and flats (separately assessed residential
units) in the Borough at the end of 1952 was 22,904. Details of inspections made and resultant action
are given in the following statement :—
Houses inspected for defects under the Public Health or Housing
Acts 1,946
Inspections made 8,016
Houses found not to be in all respects reasonably fit for human
habitation 767
Defective houses rendered fit in consequence of informal action 371
Houses in which defects were remedied by owners after service of
formal notices under the Public Health (London) Act, 1936 284
Underground Rooms.—Closing orders under section 12 of the Housing Act, 1936, were made on 27
rooms, and variations in the user of two rooms already subject to closing orders were approved by the
Public Health Committee. Nine orders, involving 19 rooms, were determined. Five undertakings
from owners not to use or permit to be used nine basement rooms for human habitation were accepted
by the Committee during the year. Inspections of these rooms throughout the Borough numbered 622.
Re-Housing.—During the year 624 enquiries were received from the Borough Council's Housing
Director, the London County Council and other local authorities, regarding the circumstances of
persons applying for re-housing. Nearly all requests necessitated investigation by a sanitary inspector
before the enquirer could be provided with a report to assist him in assessing the order of priority
of the various applicants. In 436 instances the application was supported by a confidential medical
certificate which is considered by the Medical Officer of Health personally. The detailed medical
evidence made available in this way, along with environmental reports by the sanitary inspectors,
places the Medical Officer of Health in a better position to express an opinion on the number of
"points" to be awarded in these cases. The occupants of rooms upon which closing orders are made
receive additional "points" which increase their degree of priority for re-housing, and until thev
obtain other accommodation the operation of the closing orders remains in abeyance.
Common Lodging Houses.—Ninety-six inspections were made of the two lodging houses in the
Borough ; one, accommodating 391 men, owned by the Salvation Army and situated at No. 2, Burne
Street and premises in Lisson Street ; the other, registered for 85 women, conducted by the Church
Army at Portman House, No. 10, Daventry Street. At the men's lodging house the range of 15
water-closets and 7 urinals in the basement has been a matter of concern to the Department for some
time. These conveniences are of old design, dilapidated, frequently become choked and cannot be
maintained in a cleanly state. The owners were therefore called upon to demolish them and to provide
more suitable facilities. A proposed new installation in the basement beneath the front entrance in
Lisson Street, which will comprise 11 water-closets, 7 urinals and 5 wash-basins, was subsequently
approved in principle. This accommodation is to be mechanically ventilated, and the floors and walls
of the apartment will be tiled. At the same time, it is the owners' intention to provide three new
urinals in the ablutions room in the basement of the Burne Street frontage. It is hoped that these
much-needed improvements may be completed early in 1953.