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HEALTH REPORT FOR 1951
The Urban District of Coulsdon and Purley was constituted
by an Order of the Local Government Board dated 1st November,
1914, and came into existence on the 7th April, 1915. It has
therefore been a separate District for just over 36 years.
Situated on the North Downs immediately to the south of
Croydon, it is a well-favoured "dormitory" suburb, with a very
considerable part of its area as yet undeveloped and forming
part of the "Green Belt." Thanks to successful Town Planning
Schemes in the past there is comparatively little dense development,
most of the houses being well spaced. It is hoped that, as
an outcome of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, it will
continue to possess extensive open spaces, but constant vigilence
is very necessary if the claims on land for housing and other forms
of development are not to be allowed to destroy the green belt
which London has tried, but failed to ensure for the last 300 years.
The majority of the residents who work, do so in London
or Croydon, travelling to and fro daily. Locally there are no
really large manufacturing or other industries, most of the
residents employed in the District being connected with building
and decorating, with the provision of food and the other wants
of the inhabitants, or attached to the mental hospitals. The
amount of unemployment, apart from temporary unemployment
pending transfer, is still negligible.

In mid-1950 the Registrar-Genleral estimated that 64,490
persons were residing in the District, but the result of the 1951
census, 63,770, showed that he had slightly over-estimated the
population recently. His mid-year estimate for 1951 was 64,200.
These numbers include persons resident in Institutions in
the District, the numbers of which at the end of 1951 were as
follows:—
7