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41
SECTION IV.
HOUSING AND TOWN PLANNING.
Buildings. In consequence of the war-regulations of the Ministry of
Munitions respecting the limitation of any outlay to £500, unless by special
provision, no large buildings other than factories for war work have been erected
in Edmonton this year. Very few dwellings have been erected either, because
of the scarcity of labour and the high prices for wood, glass and other materials.
No prosecution for contraventions of the building bye-law 113 have taken
place since 1907.
Nothing was done that can be recorded under Article V. of the Housing
Regulations, 1910, as the Housing Inspector (Mr. H. K. Nixon) is on war
service, and no deputy has been appointed.
Sir Alfred Warren, our first M.P., has stated that "the houses to be built
in the future must be much better than many houses now in Edmonton. There
has been a bit of jerry-building going on here." I am glad to note that I shall
have his support in reforming house conditions in this area.
ROADS.
No private streets have been made during the year under the 1892 Act.
During the past year the main and some district roads have been sprayed
with tar.
The main road wideningS consequent upon the installation of electric
tramcars have made progress, but even at the end of the year some few had
not been completed.
The widening of Angel Road at the front of Eley's land where the Government
erected a large factory for making munitions of war, was a matter under
consideration from the beginning of 1918. The estimated cost was £1,667, of
which the County Council promises one-third and the Road Board agreed to
advance the two-thirds free of interest and repayable in five equal yearly sums.
In February the Council sealed an agreement with Elliott's Trustees which
secured strips of land for widening Church Street between Little Bury Street
and Bush Hill Road.
Notices were given about March under Public Health Acts (Amendment
Act), 1890, Section 41, about 51 streets which had been made up under the
Public Health Act, 1875, and notices of adoption were posted up in 11 streets
which had been made up under the Private Street Works Act, 1892. Thus the
total length of over seven miles has been added to the roads kept under repair
by the Council.