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1-10 Burlington Place. Because of the age of most of the occupants,
the Public Health Committee arranged for the Town Clerk and
Medical Officer of Health to interview the owners with a view to the
latter not reletting before making contact with the Council.
sideration will again be given to these properties during 1954.
67 and 69, Cowslip Road. These properties were demolished during
1953 after splitting badly after settlement. A Demolition Order was
placed on No. 69; an undertaking in connection with No. 67 had been
given previously.
1-5, Slaters Cottages. After protracted negotiations with the
owners, the Council decided to obtain estimates for demolishing the
properties. Unfortunately it is not possible to report the demolition
of this block of property in 1953. The Clearance Order in respect of
these cottages was confirmed near the end of 1952 and became operative
on 14th November, 1953.
1-6, Woodbine Place. The Medical Officer of Health made an official
representation in respect of these dwellings. As this was done near
the end of 1953 it is not possible to report the Minister's confirmation
of the Clearance Order.
99-125 and 129—169, Chigwell Road. This property known locally as
Oxford Terrace, was the subject of a Town Planning appeal. The
huses are very dilapidated, distorted and generally worn out, and
have behind them disused land belonging to the Council, ultimately
to be used as an open space (sports ground). The Council wisely
decided that by using some of the ground (some 2¾ acres out of 30
acres) they could erect flats to accommodate the occupiers and others
awaiting satisfactory living accommodation. The County Council, in
their wisdom, decided against the development mainly on the grounds
that it would encroach by a small amount on the Green Belt. Strangely
to say, the space concerned is shut in at one end by a garage and
filling station, a small decrepit stream known as the River Roding
at the back, a factory at the other end, and on the opposite side of
The road are situated a large dairy depot, a plant nursery and a cafe.
The Ministry, after the enquiry, decided to support the County
Council, much to the amazement of all concerned locally. The effect
of this is to cause a much smaller number of flats to be erected, reducing
the number by about half.
This reduction in the number of dwellings is a serious matter
for the Council, because it is faced with the difficulty of finding
sufficient land for building purposes. When one looks around the
Borough, one can hardly appreciate this fact for there are many open
spaces, and large ones at that, but all this land is Epping Forest land
and cannot be built on. The Council is now faced with a big problem
to provide accommodation for the Oxford Terrace residents. The way
in which this matter will be dealt with must remain to be described
in the Annual Report for 1954.
5-12, Wallers Cottages, Woodford Bridge, were considered by the
Public Health Committee, and as their condition did not warrant
immediate action, they were left to be reported when a survey is
made of the Borough.
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