London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Woolwich 1914

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Woolwich]

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111
of 3d. per receptacle, charged per quarter in advance on
the amount collected in the previous quarter.
HOUSING OF THE WORKING CLASSES ACTS.
32. Active steps were again taken in 1914 under the
Housing and Town Planning Act. 18 houses were represented
under Section 17 as unfit for human habitation,
compared with 9, 18, and 52, in the three previous years.
9 Closing Orders were made, compared with 5, 14, and 14,
in the three preceding years. 9 houses were remedied to
the satisfaction of the Medical Officer of Health without
Closing Orders being made, compared with 4, 4, and 26,
in 1911-1913. In some of the 9, the houses were temporarily
closed while the work was done.
The following was the procedure adopted:—
The Public Health and Housing Committee, after considering
the Medical Officer's representation, gave notice
to all persons interested that the question of making a
Closing Order would be considered at the following meeting;.
When the owner attended the meeting, admitted the existence
of the defects, and gave an undertaking to carry
out the works required to make the house fit for human
habitation, the Committee usually accepted his undertaking.
In several cases where the owner disputed the
existence of the defects the Committee visited and inspected
the house in question. In such cases, if convinced
of the serious condition of the premises, a Closing Order
was usually made.
The following were the chief requirements demanded of
the owner for putting premises into sanitary condition:—