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16
Survey of Atmospheric Pollution.
The Department co-operates in the National Survey on atmospheric
pollution carried on under the aegis of the Department of
Scientific and Industrial Research. As a result of a critical review
of methods of observation it was recommended that the use of Lead
Peroxide instruments, for measuring sulphur in the air, and the
Deposit Gauge, should be confined to the study of special local
pollution problems. This policy has been adopted in Barnes and the
use of these instruments was discontinued. The measurement of smoke
and sulphur dioxide by the more accurate daily volumetric apparatus
has, however, been continued, and the information obtained is supplied
to the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. This apparatus
is situated at the Civil Defence Training Centre in East Sheen.
Although daily visits and tests are necessary the running expenses are
much less than those previously incurred.
SECTION 'D' — HOUSING
Housing work has not been of a spectacular nature during the
past year. The Stanton Road Clearance Area was finally cleared and
so brought to an end the slum clearance programme for Barnes as far
as the old type of slums were concerned. It cannot be said, however,
that housing conditions are now to be considered satisfactory. Whilst
freedom from rent control has certainly produced a new mobility in
housing there are certain aspects of this mobility which should cause
concern. Where long standing tenancies are brought to an end,
usually by the death or dispossession of an elderly tenant, the vacant
property is invariably put on the market, possibly improved and reoccupied,
not by a tenant of the same income group as the old tenant,
but by someone who can afford to pay four or five times the old rent.
Often the new occupants are from outside this area — or even from
abroad!
The result of this trend is that the reservoir of housing accommodation,
available for the lower income groups, becomes smaller and
smaller every week. Those workers who, for centuries, have been able
to find reasonably priced accommodation near their work, now not
only cannot find such cheap, convenient accommodation but they
cannot find any accommodation at all locally. Their only recourse is
to go back, complete with family, to Mum and Dad, or to other
relatives, and from there register for a house and a job in one of the
New Towns. A healthy district needs workers of all grades of income
to keep things balanced, to provide services of all kinds and to maintain
a varied flourishing community. Recruitment of labour for local
purposes will become increasingly difficult unless something can be