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25
Further action under the Council's five year Slum
Clearance programme is dependent upon the ability of the
Council to re-house persons displaced. Although other
areas of unfit houses have been inspected and my reports
are ready for consideration by the Council it would appear
that until the housing situation has eased sufficiently
to enable the Council to re-house persons displaced no
purpose would be served in submitting further areas for
the Council's decision
Basement Dwellings.
On the 3rd February, 1955, the Minister of Housing
and Local Government approved Regulations made by the
Ealing Borough Council in respect of Underground Rooms.
It was anticipated that a number of basement dwellings in
the Borough would fall so far short of these Regulations
that Closing Order procedure might be necessary. A systematic
inspection of basement dwellings in the Borough was
commenced but was held up for some time owing to shortage
of staff. Subsequently a decision in the Court of Appeal
has nullified the effect of the Regulations as this decision
means, in effect, that before an Underground Room,
as defined under Section 18(2) of the Housing Act, 1957.
can be closed, the Local Authority must be satisfied that
it is unfit within the meaning of Section 4 of the Housing
Act, 1957. It would appear, therefore, that the Regulations
no longer serve any practical purpose. Prior to
this decision of the Court of Appeal a number of basements
had been rendered fit for habitation by informal action
and this work is still proceeding within the limits of
Section 4 of the Housing Act, 1957.
In the following cases Closing Orders were made by
the Council in respect of the underground rooms:
25 The Avenue, W.13.
130 Church Road, W. 7.
16a Drayton Green Road3 W, 13.
36 Lower Boston Road, W. 7.
24 Oxford Road, W, 5.
55- Mount Avenue, W, 5.
18b Drayton Green Road, W, 13.
97 The Grove, W, 5.
Of these 24 Oxford Road and 55 Mount Avenue were rendered
fit for human habitation by the owners who carried
out works of repair and improvement approved by the Council
and the Closing Orders were determined.
BATHS AND SWIMMING POOLS.
The Council's Swimming Baths in Longfield Avenue are