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only of the tenants themselves, but also of their neighbours. These passages
are difficult to supervise by my department, or by the police, and are in
every way a bad substitution for the plan of semi-detached villas (i.e., villas
with their own side entrances), where coal can be brought in and ashes and
refuse taken out, without causing a nuisance or annoyance to one's neighbours
or the public generally."
These remarks apply to Plan No. 3157, and, indeed, with more force,
as Delhi Road will form part of the new main road to Cambridge, 100 feet
wide, which the Road Board intends to place along there in the immediate
future. The Council will be wise to remember this, and not allow houses
to be erected which will have to be bought and/or pulled down, at great cost
to the ratepayers, if the road is now allowed to be made less than 100 feet
wide between the two front building lines.
The style of these houses is inferior to those in Porlock Road, as the
sculleries are only a " lean-to," without bedrooms over them, and the so-called
third bedrooms are only 8½ feet long by 6 feet wide, and 8½ feet high, and
without a fireplace. The total cubic capacity is not much over 400 cubic
feet, which is about the provision for one person in a common lodging-house.
Your Committee (through the Council) is able to determine, in the
western half of Edmonton, the development of which is now subject to the
provisions of the Housing and Town Planning Act, and the Regulations
thereof, the following matters :—
1. The width and direction of the roads.
2. The height and character of the buildings to be erected.
3. The number of houses that shall be erected per acre.
On the side of the main road to Cambridge, which will be the most important
thoroughfare (in the future) of Bush Hill Park, I think you will agree that
not more than 12 houses per acre is a reasonable limit. The plan shows more
than 21 houses per acre—a number that should be allowed only in back-streets
for workmen's cottages, and not in areas in main roads, which should be
occupied by residences of good rateable value.
I trust that in the interests of the ratepayers and the public health,
you will recommend the Council to use their Town-planning powers in this
area.
I am, Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
SIDNEY C. LAWRENCE,
Medical Officer of Health.
P.S.-—I understand that the erection of these houses has been commenced
already—without waiting for your approval of the plans.
S.C.L.
Note.—Notwithstanding my protest, the plan was approved.