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25
HOUSING.
The special house-to-house inspection of dwelling houses in the Borough is
referred to on page 22. Further particulars as regards housing are contained in the
Appendix (pp. 64/65).
The work on the area included in the London County Council Ware Street
Housing Scheme continued in progress throughout the year. Some 80 tenements
were completed and the erection of 32 others was commenced. Mention should also
be made that the erection of 104 flats by the Corporation of the City of London was
completed during the year. These dwellings which contain 342 rooms are for the
accommodation of persons displaced in the City in connection with schemes for
improving the housing conditions of the people. The dwellings are built upon a site
adjoining Shepherdess Walk and Wenlock Road.
Four other dwellings were commenced during the year, one 4-roomed house at
40, Shap Street, and a block of three flats at 44, Pearson Street.
Reference was made in the preceding report to the inadequacy of the lighting of
the staircases of many of the tenement buildings in the Borough, and it is satisfactory
to be able to report that under Section 61 of the L.C.C. (General Powers) Act, 1927,
the Council now have powers which should ensure a great improvement in this
matter in the near future.
The houses let in lodgings or occupied by members of more than one family on
the register at the end of the year numbered 303, and some 1,231 visits of inspection
were made in connection with them. In 213 instances intimations relating to various
matters requiring attention were served upon the persons responsible for dealing with
the same, and in 134 instances Statutory Notices followed. In 4 instances proceedings
before the magistrate became necessary.
There were two applications for certificates under the Rent and Mortgage Interest
(Restrictions) Acts, 1920-23, that dwellings were not in all respects reasonably fit for
human habitation. Both were granted.
FACTORY AND WORKSHOP ACT, 1901.
The number of workshops, exclusive of bakehouses, on the register at the end
of the year was 1,631. Of these 369 had been added, 184 having been removed.
A classification of the workshops registered is contained in the summary of proceedings
under the Act which is appended. Some 2,623 visits of inspection were made in
connection with workshops and 614 with factories.
Five communications were received from the factory inspectors relative to the
establishment of 151 new workshops in the Borough. As the result of inspection 127
were found in a satisfactory condition, and 11 were not in use. With regard to the
remainder sanitary notices were necessary ; in 8 instances for cleansing, 1 on account
of defective w.c., 2 for defective roofs, 1 for dirty urinal and 1 on account of w.c.
being improperly screened.