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104
In the Ministry's circular, special recognition is given to the magnitude
of the Slum problem in London and to the fact that greater efforts and a longer
period will be required than elsewhere for its solution.
Satisfactory as it is to know that a scheme for the abolition of slum
property has been inaugurated, it must be remembered that Shoreditch is an
area of which it is specially true to say, and the point has very frequently been
made in public discussion of the Housing Problem, that the worst housing
conditions are by no means always found in the worst houses. There are a
large number of tenement houses in the Borough which would be considered
perfectly satisfactory if occupied by the single families for which they were
designed, but which now harbour a family per floor, and sometimes more,
under conditions far worse than those obtaining in many of the small
dilapidated cottages scheduled for demolition.
At its meeting in June the Council adopted the following recommendations
contained in a report upon this Circular placed before them by the
Chairman of the Housing Committee—Councillor H. P. Griffiths, viz.:—
(1) The Council do approve, in principle, the expenditure of a halfpenny
rate annually upon the demolition of certain areas included in this list.
This undertaking must, of course, be subject to the London County
Council providing the necessary re-housing accommodation, apart from
from that which will ultimately be available on the Stonebridge Estate,
which may be estimated at not less than sufficient for 400 additional
persons. It is suggested that after clearing the areas in question, they
should, where practicable, be utilized as open spaces, or to extend
existing ones.
(2) That certain areas should, under Town Planning arrangements, be
definitely secured for re-housing, and the most suitable area, having
regard to the properties listed would appear to be that bounded by
the Canal, Hyde Road, Hoxton Street and Kingsland Road. (This
area includes the London County Council Whitmore Estate, St.
Leonard's Hospital, and at its southern end, the Drysdale Street area.
There are other possible areas which might usefully be considered both
in regard to housing and possible street widening.
(3) That the London County Council be urged to approve the Borough
Council's suggestion in regard to travelling expenses, with a view to a
portion of the subsidy being utilized for the purpose, and to include the
recommendation on these lines in the report which they must make to
the Ministry of Health next September.
(4) That the London County Council be asked to include in their scheme
some definite plan regarding zoning and town planning, so as to secure
adequate protection for existing or future residential areas in the
Borough.