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65
SLUM CLEARANCE.
The year has seen the completion of the original five years
programme of slum clearance and the formulation of a further
programme.
The houses in the Clearance Area comprising 1-12 School
Cottages, Church Road, Footscray, were purchased during the
year. In addition to the two families rehoused in 1960, nine more
were moved mainly to the newly constructed premises for elderly
persons in Windsor Road, Footscray. Demolition of seven of the
houses had been completed by the end of the year.
Demolition of the 21 old houses in the Clearance Area comprising
Nos. 3-18 Garden Place and 19-23 Garden Cottages, Footscray,
also commenced during the year and 12 were razed to the
ground before the end of December. 18 families comprising 64
persons were rehoused in Council Houses.
Four houses—Nos. 13-16 Albert Road, Mottingham, were
declared unfit and Demolition Orders were served on the owners.
This last mentioned group of properties formed part of the
new programme, in which 21 other houses are listed and which will
be dealt with in the next few years.
The Closing Order on No. 68 Corbylands Road, Sidcup, was
determined after all works necessary to make it fit for occupation
had been carried out.
IMPROVEMENT GRANTS
During the year, 86 applications were received for Improvement
Grants, of which 58 were made.
Details are as follow:—
Discretionary Standard
Grants Grants
1. Total applications received 66 20
2. Schemes approved 44 19
3. Amount involved in item 2 £24,679 7s. 6d. Not yet known
4. Grants made 43 15
5. Houses involved:
(a) owner occupied 39 13
(b) rented 24 14
Fifteen standard grants were made, the total cost of works
being £4,884 18s. 7d.
The vast majority of the Discretionary Grants were for the
provision of bathrooms. In five cases additional accommodation
was provided; in other cases cesspool drainage was changed to
main drainage, dry rot was eliminated and rising dampness was
cured.