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46
INSANITARY AREAS.
Somers Town Area.—This area is now on the way to be dealt with. In
the Annual Report for the year 1893 it was stated that the Arbitrator
appointed by the Home Secretary divided the area into three parts—that
north of Drummond Street, that west of Chalton Street, and that East of
Chalton Street.
The Area North of Drummond Street has been dealt with and materially
improved by your Vestry, as described in the Annual Report for 1894.
The Area West of Chalton Street is now being taken in hand by a scheme
of the London County Council, known as the London (Churchway, St.
Pancras) Improvement Scheme, 1895, made under Part I. of the Housing of
the Working Classes Act, 1890, at a total estimated cost of £51,650.
The scheme deals with the houses in Churchway, Wellesley Street,
Elizabeth Court and York Buildings, and provides for the formation of a 40feet
road along the existing line of Churchway, widening on its western side
from Grafton Place to Drummond Street, and thereby opening up three cul de
sacs, viz., Grafton Place, Wellesley Street, and Lancing Street, into each
other.
By the Improvement Scheme the proposed 40-feet road along the existing,
line of Churchway is to terminate at and continue into Grafton Place
instead of continuing through into Euston Road. Your Vestry, being of
opinion that it is highly desirable that the proposed road should be
made to communicate direct into the Euston Road, and that the Council
should be approached with a view to the inclusion into the Improvement
Scheme of the three houses in Euston Road abutting upon the entrance to
Churchway from Euston Road, resolved that the London County Council be
approached with a view to urging upon that body the desirableness of
amending the London (Churchway, St. Pancras) Improvement Scheme, 1895,
so as to continue the proposed 40-feet road direct into Euston Road, instead
of as proposed into Grafton Place, and that the Council be further urged to
acquire the houses Nos. 146, 148 and 150, Euston Road.
The Home Secretary appointed H. T. Steward, Esq., to hold an Inquiry at
the Vestry Hall on the 27th and 28th February, 1896, concerning the
Churchway Scheme of the London County Council, which as at present
shown will be the creation of a large cul de sac in one part of Somers Town
Area, which will be entirely shut off from the other part, and also from
every thoroughfare except Seymour Street. Your Yestry were of opinion
that this cul de sac should be opened up to light and air, traffic and frontage,
in such a manner as to be easily accessible from the other parts of the
locality; and being further of opinion that without this provision the Scheme
of the Council is incomplete, instructions were given for Counsel to be
retained on behalf of the Vestry, to attend the Inquiry and urge the
amendment of the Scheme in accordance with these views.
No opposition was offered to the Scheme. On behalf of the Vestry, Mr.
Corrie Grant used his best endeavours to obtain the extension of the new
Street to be formed on the site through into the Euston Road. The
Commissioner ruled that this could not be held to be part of the Inquiry ; the