View report page

73
The Council has laid down by a "points scheme" which takes
into account various factors, including special needs on medical
grounds. Houses are therefore allocated on the basis of need.
Rising costs of building and defence needs threaten to reduce
the number of houses available, but every effort is being made
to maintain the flow.
We are between "Scylla and Charybdis" insofar as repeated
economy demands are tending to reduce standards below normal
limits of comfort; and rising costs threaten to put the economical
rents outside the range of the persons for whom they are intended.
A notable feature this year has been the provision of 12 old
people's dwellings on the South East Northolt Estate i.e., about
3% of the total completed).
Too often one finds elderly people living under the most
unsuitable circumstances and often in large old houses with far
too many rooms for their present needs, yet unable to move because
of economic factors.
It is obviously sound policy in these cases to offer new homes
to these people and thus free the larger houses for growing families.
The present policy is to generally encourage exchanges of
houses and flats to make the best use of existing accommodation.
The elderly require homes that are small, warm, on the level
and with few stairs. Such conveniences as an indoor fuel store
and W.C. are essential for those who are becoming enfeebled. The
old person likes to feel in touch with the rest of the community so
that these dwellings have been made part of a larger estate where
they are within reasonable distance of bus services, post offices,
churches and cinemas.
With the increasing number of elderly folk the need for this
accommodation is increasing, and we may venture to hope that
future schemes will include a substantially greater number of such
dwellings.
Ealing has a proud record in the field of housing. During
the year 378 permanent houses and flats were completed, thus
making a total of 1,539 since the end of the war.
In addition, 645 temporary dwellings have been built and 552
premises have been requisitioned.
These efforts have not been equalled in any other area of
Middlesex.