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The first three areas, viz.: "Alpha Place North," "Alpha Mews," and "Canterbury Road,"
were declared on 24th April, 1934, involving the displacement of 198 families and 744 persons. Compulsory
Purchase Orders were made in respect of these areas. After a Public Inquiry held on the
23rd July, 1934, the Orders in respect of "Alpha Place North," and "Alpha Mews," were confirmed
with modifications; the Order respecting Canterbury Road was not confirmed. The modifications
made by the Minister of Health reduced the number of families and persons to be displaced to 105
and 435 respectively.
The next three areas, viz.: "Pembroke Place," "Cambridge Mews East," and "Cambridge
Mews West," were declared Clearance Areas on 24th July, 1934, involving the displacement of 37
families and 148 persons. Compulsory Purchase Orders were made in respect of these areas. A
Public Inquiry was held on 4th December, 1934; the result is not yet to hand.
The next three areas, viz.: "Bridge Street," "Market Place Yard," and "Park Road Mews,"
were declared to be Clearance Areas on the 18th December, 1934, involving the displacement of 31
families and 119 persons.
The number of lands involved in the Orders made by the Council are shown in a table in
Appendix G together with total inspections and re-inspections made in connection therewith.
Social Conditions.—The District is to a great extent of a residential character, and the
population, in addition to persons daily engaged elsewhere in the Metropolis, is composed of persons
locally engaged in industry and trade. Apart from the numerous and important shopping centres
in the District, there are several local industrial undertakings such as railways, and large electrical,
motor engineering, and coachbuilding works, biscuit manufacturers, bedstead and mattress manufacturers,
printing, etc.
I am indebted to the Manager of the Willesden Employment Exchange for the following
information regarding unemployment.
Unemployed.—
Men. Women. Total.
January, 1934 4,719 713 5,432
January, 1935 4,783 745 5,528
Noise.—Increased business in certain trades necessitated night-work being carried on pending
the extension of the respective premises. Occupiers of nearby houses complained of the noises from
machinery and considered the Local Authority should be in a position to regulate the periods during
which work should be done and the machinery run.
Section 56, Middlesex County Council Act, 1930, reads as follows:—
“Noise Nuisance—56.—(1) A noise nuisance shall be liable to be dealt with in accordance
with the provisions relating to nuisances of the Public Health Act, 1875:
Provided that no complaint shall be made to a justice under section 105 of the said
Act unless it is signed by not less than three householders or occupiers of premises within the
hearing of the noise nuisance complained of.
(2) For the purposes of this section a noise nuisance shall be deemed to exist where
any person makes or continues or causes to be made or continued any excessive or unreasonable
or unnecessary noise and where such noise—
(a) is injurious or dangerous to health; and
(b) is capable of being prevented or mitigated having due regard to all the
circumstances of the case:
Provided that if the noise is occasioned in the course of any trade, business or occupation
it shall be a good defence that the best practicable means of preventing or mitigating it having
regard to the cost have been adopted.
(3) The provisions of this section shall not extend or apply to the carrying on of an
undertaking authorised by Act of Parliament or by an Order confirmed by or having the
force of an Act of Parliament."
As the noises complained of were not "excessive or unreasonable or unnecessary" and the
"best practicable means," etc., had been adopted, no legal action could be taken. The firms in
question, however, continued night shifts only as long as was necessary to fulfil their contracts and
with the minimum of night staff working.
PUBLIC MORTUARY.
106 bodies were deposited at the mortuary during the year 1st January to 31st December,
1934, as follows:—Accommodations 4, Post-Mortems 56, Post-Mortems and Inquests 13, Inquests
only 33.
The existing arrangements continue to give satisfaction to the Medical Practitioners attending
the mortuary for post-mortems.