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10
Slum Clearance
The Minister of Housing and Local Government held a public inquiry into the Granville Road
(north side) Compulsory Purchase Order (48 houses) which he confirmed and a further public inquiry into
the Granville Road (north side)/Carlton Vale/Kilburn Park/Percy/Cambridge Roads Compulsory Purchase
Order (66 houses), the result of which is awaited.
He also confirmed the Carlton Vale/Canterbury/Peel Roads Compulsory Purchase Order (35 houses)
which had been the subject of a public inquiry in the previous year.
In addition, a survey was carried out of 550 houses in the No. 3 and No. 4 phased zones of the
Stonebridge Proposed Development Area.
A start was also made on the survey of 732 houses in the Willesden Green Proposed Improvement
Area.
Overcrowding
There has been little change in the extent of overcrowding which still remains acute. Very few
licences under section 80 of the Housing Act, 1957, were issued to permit temporary overcrowding (Table 27).
Landlords do not try and obtain eviction orders on the grounds of overcrowding because they realise that the
Court usually deals sympathetically with tenants.
The Housing and Estates Manager has kindly supplied the details of overcrowding in the area,
which have been based mainly on statements of housing applicants (Table 27), and also details of new dwellings
constructed during the year (Table 28).
Notices served under the Public Health Act, 1936 and Housing Act, 1957
There was a slight decrease in the number of statutory notices served during the year compared with
1958 (Table 29).
In spite of the continued shortage of Public Health Inspectors more inspections were carried out
(Tables 30-31). There were three vacancies at the beginning, but these were filled towards the end of the year.
Five Inspectors were engaged on special surveys—two on the proposed redevelopment area, one on the
proposed improvement area, and two on the smoke control areas.
Rent Act, 1957
Details of the applications received and the certificates issued up to the end of the year are shown in
Table 32.
Nuisances abated and improvements effected
A summary of nuisances abated and improvements effected is shown in Table 33.
Inspection of factories, outworkers' premises and food premises
A summary of inspections of the above premises is shown in Table 31.
CLEAN AIR
The Clean Air Act, 1956, came into full operation on the 1st June, 1958. With certain temporary
exemptions the Act prohibits the emission of 'dark smoke' from chimneys of all kinds and provides for the
establishment of smoke control areas.
The No. 1 (Neasden) Smoke Control Order covering 48 -5 acres came into operation on the 1st June.
1959. It includes 627 dwellings, 69 commercial premises and 4 industrial premises. 222 open fires, 9 open
fires with boilers, 2 gas fires and 10 electric fires were installed; 69 existing appliances were adapted; and
16 gas and 11 electric points were installed. Grants of 70% or 100% were paid to 204 owners and tenants
amounting to £1,441; the Council will recover £788 from the Exchequer.
The No. 2 (Neasden) Smoke Control Order covering 271.24 acres was confirmed by the Minister
of Housing and Local Government on the 18th December, 1959, and will come into operation on 1st October,
1960. It includes 2,351 dwellings, 112 commercial premises, 24 industrial premises and 7 other premises.
Two of the industrial premises burn coal but the Council decided they should not be granted exemption from
the Order.
A preliminary survey of the third area of 658 acres was completed at the end of the year and a
detailed survey will commence in 1960. It contains approximately 11,280 dwellings, 966 commercial premises,
34 industrial premises and 55 other premises.
The usual measurement of grit and sulphur have been made, and the results in the areas surrounding
the three power stations show improvement. In the case of Taylors Lane Power Station, however, the
improvement was probably due to the fact that there was a reduction in output because it is now mainly used
as a stand-by station (Tables 34 and 35). Compared with 1956 the reduction in coal burnt in 1959 was 54%
and in units generated 59%.
A clean air exhibition was staged at Neasden Special Training School at the beginning of the year.
It was very successful and about 400 people attended.
The Council is represented at an Inter-borough Smoke Control Liaison Committee, which also
includes delegates from the Hammersmith, Fulham, Brentford and Chiswick, Acton and Barnes Councils.
Meetings designed to co-ordinate smoke control area planning are regularly held at Hammersmith Town Hall.