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165
dealt with on the grounds of special hardship, and 1 as a result of representations
made to the London County Council regarding the health of certain members of the
family.
Whilst a certain amount of relief of overcrowding is being steadily effected by
official housing activities, it is apparent that many more families are being accommodated
as a result of their own efforts. There are, of course, other factors which have
a bearing on the subject. Any information which is available is therefore incomplete,
and does not form a proper basis for an accurate estimate of the number of houses
which are overcrowded or of families which are still living under overcrowded
conditions. It is regrettable that the accurate figures which were supplied by the
survey which was carried out in 1935 cannot be kept up to date unless a further survey
is carried out.
CLEARANCE AREAS.
During the year nine areas were represented for demolition. The areas, with
the number of houses represented in each, were as follows: Lees Buildings, 13;
Renous Court, 9; Bartlett Buildings, 10; Market Street, 27; Brunswick Street, 5;
Dunston Street, 6; Bevenden Street, 11; Batemans Place, 11; Reliance Square, 12.
The total number of houses which were represented was 104.
Four areas represented in 1935, Dereham Place, French Place, Socrates Place,
and Holywell Place were, in February, 1936, declared clearance areas in pursuance
of the provisions of Section 16 (5) (ii) of the Housing Act, 1930, and clearance orders
were made. In May, three other areas, viz., the Reliance Square, Batemans Place
and Dunston Street areas, were similarly declared to be clearance areas and orders
were made. Clearance orders made in connection with French Place, Socrates Place,
Batemans Place, and Dunston Street areas were duly confirmed by the Minister of
Health. As objections to the confirmation of the orders made in respect of Dereham
Place, Holywell Place and Reliance Square were received, the Ministry held a Local
Enquiry at the Town Hall on the 16th July. In due course the orders were confirmed
by the Minister of Health.
These areas contained 64 houses which accommodated 85 families, consisting of a
total of 313 persons. When the orders became operative, the work of clearing the
areas was commenced. By the end of the year 33 houses were vacant and 48 families
had been found accommodation, and the four houses in French Place were demolished.
INDIVIDUAL UNFIT HOUSES.
Housing Act, 1930, Section 19.
In 1936, two houses, Nos. 47 and 55, Appleby Street, were represented as not fit
for human habitation and not capable, at a reasonable expense, of being rendered so
fit. The owners gave undertakings that the premises would not be used for residential