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51
It was expected that the clearing and replacing the unfit houses would
be carried out in five years.
At the time the survey was completed in April, 1955, the 577 houses
included 29 which were already the subject of confirmed Clearance
Orders, 39 the subject of confirmed Demolition Orders and 115 about
which action had already been started. This 115 included the 91 houses
in the Northolt Road area, four in Pinner Hill Road, 10 in Palmerston
Road, four in Crown Street and six at Little Common. In April, 1955,
then, 183 of the 577 houses were the subject of some action. By the end
of 1956, some steps had been taken in respect of a further 84.
The Clearance and Re-Development Committee had decided that
activities in the first year of the Council's slum clearance programme
should be limited to the clearance and redevelopment of the unfit houses in
the Northolt Road clearance area. The Council submitted proposals for
confirmation Orders of four separate groups of properties, some of these
classed "pink," the unfit properties, and some classed "grey," being
properties not unfit but whose acquisition was necessary to obtain a
satisfactory area for redevelopment. The public local enquiry took place
on the 2nd July, 1957. The Minister's decision was:—
"1. Northolt Road No. 1 Area—8 houses, being the odd numbers
31-45, Northolt Road, classed as 'pink,' and two adjacent houses, 25
and 29, Northolt Road, classed as ' grey,' Order confirmed.
"2. Northolt Road No. 2 Area—9 houses (odd numbers 115-121,
Northolt Road) classed as 'Pink' and six adjoining shop properties
classed as 'grey.' The Order was confirmed in respect of 'pink' properties,
but the ' grey ' properties were excluded.
"3. Northolt Road No. 3 Area—20 houses (odd numbers 137-175,
Northolt Road) all classed as ' pink.' Order confirmed, apart from
No. 165 being classed as ' grey.'
"4. Alma Road and Alma Crescent. The 'pink' area comprised
16 houses, being the odd numbers 1-31, Alma Road, and all the 11
properties in Alma Crescent. The 'grey' properties comprised 64
properties, including some shops. The Minister excluded all the 'grey'
land, and also the 'pink' properties 1-11 (odd numbers), Alma Crescent
and 15-31, Alma Road. The decision about the 'pink' properties was
unexpected as most of them are in much the same condition as the other
Properties in Alma Road and Alma Crescent.
Apart from these steps taken in regard to these Northolt Road area
Properties, a number of other houses were the subject of some other
action during the year. A few of the houses included in the original
Programme had been rendered fit by the owners. On the other hand, a
few houses had to be considered which were not included in the original
list. in the meantime, some houses of the original 577 had been demolished
preliminary actions of different sorts, whether to proceed by way of
Demolition Order and Clearance Order or to acquire by agreement,
were being taken in respect of many houses.