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106
The story of unfit areas in Woolwich would not be complete without a reference
to the programme of the London County Council in Woolwich. So far that body
has dealt with three areas as under:—
(а) Ropeyard Rails Areas.— On the 26th November, 1935, Dr. W. E. Roper
Saunders, a medical officer of health appointed by the London County Council for
the purpose of carrying into effect Part I of the Housing Act, 1930, made an official
representation with respect to a group of areas known as Ropeyard Rails Areas (Nos.
1 to 8). They comprise 125 houses, including 4 tenement houses with 38 flats.
The displacement of 1,021 persons is involved. At their meeting on the 21st July,
1936, the London County Council declared each of these areas to be clearance areas.
(б) Barnfield Road Areas.— These areas, details of which were given in my report
for last year were represented to the Council on the 11th December, 1935, by Dr.
J. Bruce Low. The Council subsequently made compulsory purchase orders in
respect of the unfit areas and also certain adjoining houses and lands. On the
25th October, 1937, a Ministry of Health Inquiry was held. The Minister's decision
was not known at the end of the year.
(c) Parkdale Road Area.— The Clearance Order in respect of this area of 8 houses
was confirmed in 1936. At the end of 1937 all the houses had been demolished.
The County Council programme, like that of the Borough Council, is not yet
complete.
Hutments.— In my Annual Report for 1934, I reported on an agreed three-party
scheme between the owners of certain hutments, the London County Council and the
Council, for the re-housing of the tenants of Eltham hutments and for the demolition
of the hutments.
The first of these dwellings was ready for occupation on the 1st September of
that year, and at the end of 1937, the total number of families so re-housed was 863.
The scheme was completed during the year and all these hutments have been
demolished.
A further 127 hutments have been dealt with by Clearance Orders.
Re-Housing of Old People.— It was decided by the Council in 1935 that where
aged or infirm persons were re-housed from clearance areas the women sanitary
inspectors should pay periodic visits to all such cases, in order to promote their
general welfare and prevent the development of insanitary conditions. This practice
was continued during the year with satisfactory results.
New Houses.— The following Table No. 37 shows the number of certificates of a
proper and sufficient supply of water for new houses granted by the Health