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1—7, Inman's Row are to be reported on again in 1954.
9—11, Radley's Lane and 11—17, Voluntary Place. These properties
are to be reported upon fully when they become vacant after the
occupants have been rehoused by the Council.
1, Wallers Cottages. The remarks in the preceeding paragraph apply
also to this property.
117, Chigwell Road. This is a property referred to in the report on
Oxford Terrace, and was reported to the Public Health Committee
for action under Section 11. Further details will be given in the 1954
Annual Report.
The Croydon Experiment and the Stockton Test.
The Public Health Committee were given details regarding the
above, and it was gratifying to note that the members were interested
in the provision of baths and internal water closets, etc. in the
older houses. Their interest was such that they agreed to the Chairman,
Vice-Chairman, Medical Officer of Health, Senior Sanitary
Inspector and Deputy Senior Sanitary Inspector visiting Croydon to
see the improvements to the houses. The action of Federated Foundries
Ltd., in so kindly arranging the visit was greatly appreciated,
the visitors gaining first hand information on the subject.
Preliminary Survey.
To assist the Sub-Committee of the Public Health Committee in
their work, a preliminary survey of many of the 200 properties earmarked
for future action under the provisions of the Housing Act
was made by the Senior Sanitary Inspector and his Deputy. This
survey enabled those officers to regroup the properties, and the Council
to deal with the worst ones first. A report on the regrouping was
made early in 1954.
Overcrowding.
It was necessary to report one case of overcrowding to the Public
Health Committee. This was a case where the family concerned
occupied one room with a small section screened to provide a "make
shift" kitchen. Proceedings were authorised but avoided because the
occupier made arrangements for alternative accommodation for his
children.
Needless to say quite a number of complaints were received during
the year alleging overcrowding, but these when investigated
were found not to be overcrowded. It is quite common these days to
find not overcrowding but cramped conditions due to the newly
married part of the family living in with the parents. The room or
rooms become overloaded with furniture purchased by the young
married members of the household. Again it is not uncommon for the
parents to deliberately cramp these young folk; this leads one to
believe that (perhaps wrongly) it is done in the hope of forcing the
hand of the Local Authority to provide alternative accommodation.
These efforts, however, meet with little success.
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