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42
In March the attention of the County Council was called to the damage
created by the heavy traffic over Pickett's Lock Lane to the Leaside Munition
Works, which was estimated to cost £2,030 to repair. The road surface over
Angel Road Bridge suffered even more so.
A service of motor busses was arranged by the War Transport Department
of the Government from Fore Street down Angel Road to carry munition
workers to the factories.
On May 18th the Council authorised our Engineer to carry out works to
strengthen two bridges at Ponders End in the Enfield Urban District for the
Government at the request of the Road Board.
HOUSING AFTER THE WAR.
A conference for authorities within 30 miles of Charing Cross, organised
by the National Housing and Town Planning Council, was held on 14th and 15th
March, at Caxton Hall, Westminster. The Chairman of the Committee and
our Engineer attended on behalf of the Council. I was present on behalf of
the Society of Medical Officers of Health. The meeting was addressed by
Mr. Hayes Fisher, the President of the Local Government Board, who foretold
financial assistance from the State. The following resolutions were carried:—
(a) "To urge all Local Authorities in Greater London with suitable
land in their areas, to enter upon the preparation of housing schemes, and
(b) "Also to urge the London County Council to use with vigour their
supplemental powers to buy land and prepare housing schemes for the
building of houses outside the area of the County of London, wherever it
can be shown to the satisfaction of the Local Government Board and the
London County Council, that, in the interest of London as a whole, such
action should be taken."
On 9th July the Chairman of the Committee and of the Council, with the
Architect and the Engineer were appointed to represent Edmonton on a Housing
and Town Planning Advisory Committee for Greater London and the Home
Counties, which met on July 26th. This was organised by the National
Housing and Town Planning Council. On 27th August our Engineer presented
a report announcing that an Executive Committee had been appointed of 27
members, and that Edmonton had secured a seat out of nine as representing
Urban District Councils. The work of this Committee is to organise co-operation
between Local Sanitary Authorities, to direct and concentrate their views
on post-war housing, especially as regards finance, and to unite in representations
to the Government on important issues, e.g., the terms on which the Government
in a recent circular offered financial assistance. Mr. Brown expressed his
emphatic opinion that the housing of London and Greater London should be
treated as an indivisable unit with the co-operation of the London County
Council and other County Councils concerned, and that the balance of cost
(after receiving the Government subsidy) should be borne by the County
rates. The conference appointed a deputation to interview the President of
the Local Government Board.