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habitable, he took down the houses and sold the building material.
There are several other houses becoming generally dilapidated, and
the time is not far distant, unless the owner takes steps to deal with
the property, when these will have to be dealt with in a similar way.
Dealing with such property in this fragmentary way is tedious,
and causes an enormous amount of work. The only effectual way
is by an improvement scheme.
In 1897 I projected a scheme whereby the narrow road now
known as Bridport Road could have been made much wider.
The frontage line in the main road improved, and the main road
widened, still leaving the Council sufficient land to have built
about thirty experimental artizan's dwellings, also improving the
air space at the rear of Gilpin Grove. From enquiries I made at the
time the land and property in question could have been acquired
reasonably. However, this suggestion was not then taken up.
The only Common Lodging House in the district is situated in
Eaton Place, and if any scheme of improvement were taken up, the
Council might feel disposed to erect a Municipal Common Lodging
House, as these have been found to repay the cost, and such places
must be provided municipally or otherwise, and a Municipally-controlled
Common Lodging House must of necessity be an improvement
on a private venture.
I herewith append a plan " A " showing the area as it existed in
1897, also another plan " B " as projected in 1897. The land upon
which Gilpin Crescent is now built was lying idle at the time. The
dotted line shows the proposed increased air space at the rear of
Gilpin Grove.
Of course the suggested arrangement shown by Plan " B " might
be improved upon, but the scheme generally would undoubtedly
have proved a great public benefit.