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New Town Housing
The total number of families removing to New or Expanded Towns: 25 families
nominated under the Industrial Selection Scheme up to April, 1956, since when the Council
has had to pay subsidy for every family moving from this Borough to New or Expanded
Towns. The total number of families who have moved to New or Expanded Towns since
that date is a further 168.
There were 426 more houses built between 1930 and 1936 which still had old ranges
with hot water supply, except where the tenants themselves installed modern fireplaces.
99 of these ranges were replaced by the Council up to the 31st December, 1958. These
houses all have an electricity supply but most of them are without lavatory basins unless the
tenants have fitted them.
This year the Council has made plans to provide 48 more old people's dwellings. Until
now bungalows have been built for old people but this time 4 blocks of 2 storey flats have
been designed round a green fronting on Havelock Road and surrounded by families who
have already settled on the Estate.
Thirteen of these flats are to have the bedroom separate and the rest consist of bedsitting
room, bathroom and kitchen.
The staircases are to be made as easy as possible with good handrails and the more
spritely tenants will have the upper flats. Dustbins are in alcoves on the balconies but there
will be drying grounds and room for gardens at the back for those who like.
Inside, the flats will be light and draught free. The living rooms and bed-sitting rooms
are to be warmed by fireplaces with back boilers for water heating and are to have electric
points as well. The bedrooms will have electric points and so will the kitchens. In bedrooms,
bed-sitting rooms and bathrooms there are to be also alarm switches for use in emergency
which will set a large bell ringing in the hall, where there will be an indicator to show the
source of the call. By this means it is hoped that any tenant in distress will be able quickly
to attract the attention of a neighbour. The baths are to have two hand grips inset to lessen
the effort of getting in and out.
Lighting on the staircases and balconies will be by fluorescent tube and kept on day
and night so that at no time will it be necessary to find one's way in the dark. Twelve of these
dwellings were completed by the end of 1958 and twelve old people's lettings arranged.
The last of the houses built with gas lighting will have been modernised by early 1959;
72 houses in Greenford Avenue being dealt with in this year's programme. All the 349
houses built before 1929 will then have been wired for electricity, had modern fireplaces
fitted and hot water supply and lavatory basins installed where necessary.
Houses Let in Lodgings
The Council applied the provisions of Section 12 of the Housing Repairs and Rents
Act, 1954, houses let in lodgings.
A permitted number, based on floor area, is fixed for each room regarded as suitable for
sleeping accommodation and formal notice of these standards served on the person having
control of the house.
The number of houses owned by coloured immigrants and occupied by them as lodging
houses had reached a figure of 102 by the end of 1958. Control by the application of Section
90 of the Housing Act, 1957, is continued.
Middlesex County Council Act, 1944—Section 345
The caravan site at the junction of Regina Road and Pluckington Place continues to be
used as the winter quarters of a member of The Showmen's Guild. One family still occupies
a caravan near the Grand Union Canal, at Bull's Bridge.
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