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Public Baths and Wash-houses.
The Council has four bathing establishments in the Borough. A full description
of this service, which includes swimming baths, slipper baths, Turkish baths
and massage, wash-houses and the use of the premises for social and sporting
activities during the winter months, was included in my Annual Report for 1949.
The Baths Superintendent has informed me that, during the twelve months ended
31st March, 1952, there was an increase of 36,283 compared with the previous
year in the total number of attendances. Attendances during that period were
as follows:—
Swimming 365,394
Slipper Baths 154,673
Turkish baths and massage 16,112
Public wash-houses 13,007
Free baths to old age pensioners and unemployed 3,935
HOUSING
In December, 1952, there were estimated to be 39,697 houses in the Borough.
The number inspected for housing defects under the Public Health or Housing
Acts was 9,046, compared with 11,238 in 1951. The number found not to be in
all respects reasonably fit for habitation was 1,501. Some 947 houses were
rendered fit in consequence of informal action by the Sanitary Inspectors, including
the service of intimation notices. House-to-house inspections were carried out
under the Housing (Consolidated) Regulations, 1925, 384 dwelling houses being
inspected under these Regulations in 1952.
Overcrowding.
Upon application being made by either landlord or occupier, the Council
is under an obligation to give in writing the permitted number of persons in
respect of any dwelling house, and measurements of dwellings were taken on 475
occasions compared with 718 in 1951. In all, a total of 99 families were found to
be living in overcrowded conditions, and overcrowding reports were made to
the London County Council on behalf of these persons. In 42 cases the London
County Council provided other accommodation.
A further 206 families were visited following a complaint of overcrowding or
at the request of the London County Council, and reports were sent to the Council's
Housing Department and to the London County Council, setting out details of
the housing applicant's present accommodation.
Individual Unfit Houses.
Eleven houses were represented during the year as being unfit for human
habitation and incapable of being made fit at reasonable expense, and formal
notices were served on the owners under the provisions of the Housing Acts.
After consideration of each case, Demolition Orders were made by the Council
in respect of nine of these houses, and undertakings not to use the premises for
human habitation, accepted in respect of the remaining two houses. Details of
the houses dealt with are as follows:—
24, Kingsman Street Demolition Order dated 21st May, 1952.
1, Railway Court Demolition Order dated 21st May, 1952.
2, Railway Court Demolition Order dated 21st May, 1952.
32, Ropeyard Rails Demolition Order dated 27th June, 1952.
33, Ropeyard Rails Demolition Order dated 27th June, 1952.
2, Hull Place Demolition Order dated 29th June, 1952.
3, Hull Place Demolition Order dated 29th Dec., 1952.
5, Hull Place Demolition Order dated 29th Dec., 1952.
6, Hull Place Demolition Order dated 29th Dec., 1952.
la, Kempt Street Undertaking dated 20th Nov., 1952, accepted.
149, Kingsman Street Undertaking dated 30th Dec., 1952, accepted.
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