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Large models, when erected, generally replace small houses which have been
demolished. The rooms in the small houses in back streets are more often overcrowded
than the rooms in model dwellings. The displacement of density in rooms
is therefore replaced by density on space. It is undoubtedly a vast improvement,
but it must not be thought to be an unmixed blessing. As there are practically
no back-to-back houses in the strict sense of the word in this district, the houses
generally have a yard of some sort for the children to play in, during some part
of the day. In a few instances, where there are no yards at the rear of the premises,
the Court is entered by a narrow neck, where no vehicles can enter, as in
Newton's Rents. The space in front of the houses is then used by the children as
a kind of private playground. On the higher floors of model dwellings, on the other
hand, the mothers cannot afford the time to take the young children downstairs, and
as it is frequently too dangerous for them to go by themselves, they are kept indoors,
generally in the kitchen.
They are therefore not allowed to have the fresh air which is absolutely essential
for their well-being. This bad condition of affairs is accentuated where a family
occupies two or three rooms, and in order to prevent overcrowding of the bedroom,
a bed is placed in the kitchen. This condition is almost a daily occurrence.
The room where the younger children live by day, has been used during the
previous night, thus rendering it more imperative for the children to have opportunities
to spend as much time as possible in the open air. As I stated above, this
cannot be done in a large majority of model dwellings, and thus detracts a little
from the advantages they otherwise undoubtedly possess over the small and admittedly
insanitary houses, that have been displaced.
The procedure under the Act must to a certain extent be made public. This
gives an opportunity to certain shrewd house speculators to buy the property, raise
the rents, and by the time the Local Authority is ready to negotiate for its purchase,
the property is very much enhanced in value. This took place in the Back
Church Lane Area, but as the London County Council ultimately refused to proceed
with the scheme, the speculators must have made a bad investment, especially as they
were immediately called upon to carry out extensive sanitary repairs. If the scheme
had been proceeded with, this speculation would have rendered the property more
expensive to purchase, and thus would have affected the rents of the houses that
would have ultimately been erected on the site.
Back Church Lane Area.
On October 23rd, 1901, after a consultation with, and at the suggestion of, the
Medical Officer of Health of the London County Council, I made an official