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connection in that they prescribe new standards of noninflammability
lor textile fabrics, to which the Fabrics (Misdescription)
Act, 1913 applies, namely, textile fabrics to
which is attributed the quality of non-inflammability or
safety from fire, or any degree of that quality. The Act
places the responsibility on the local authority, who have
been considering how the stringent British Standards tests
prescribed by the Regulations could best be carried out. It
is likely that they are too complicated to be carried out in
the Health Department and the Council are considering the
possibility of submitting samples of fabrics to one or other
of the testing houses, recommended by the Board of Trade,
who would be prepared to undertake such work on behalf of
local authorities.
During the year considerable progress was made by the
Council in the clearance of the East Wickham Hutments and
the following is a summary of the work which has been carried
out. The site comprises the area roughly bounded by Wickham
Street, Upper Wickham Lane and Lovel Avenue in its
western section and Upper Wickham Lane, Berwick Road
and Lyme Road in the east. Originally developed as temporary
hutments for the housing of Woolwich Arsenal
workers during the 1914-1918 war, it is now being redeveloped
under the Council's slum clearance programme.
The development has, in view of the need to
rehouse people from the existing huts into the new
houses, been divided roughly into three phases. The
first and second phases concern the western area of the
estate, and contracts for 165 and 116 dwellings respectively
have been placed for this work. The accommodation
to be provided consists of two storey development giving one
and three bedroom accommodation. The first phase is already
well advanced, due for completion in September, 1960, 28
houses have already been completed and occupied. The
second phase is due to commence shortly and will be carried
out concurrently with the contract under way. The third
phase comprising the eastern section will provide approximately
200 dwellings giving a more diverse range of accommodation
with one, two, three and four bedroom units in
two and five storey blocks. This phase is at present in the
design stage but should follow phases one and two in 1961.
The future of the health services in this area is closely
linked up with work of the Royal Commision on Local
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