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13
CHIEF PUBLIC HEALTH INSPECTOR'S REPORT
Housing—Demolition and Closure
The clearance of unfit houses continued in accordance
with the Council's programme. Progress appeared to be
slower as no demolition orders were made. The declaring
of three clearance areas, embracing sixty-three unfit houses
was under consideration and although not accomplished
during the year was subsequently achieved. Better progress
was made with clearing houses already the subject of demolition
orders.
Rehousing of the occupants of the Fern Grove Clearance
Area was completed and most of the site cleared.
Action taken during 1961 is as follows:—
Houses reported to Public Health Committee
as being unfit 9
Demolition Orders made —
Closing Orders made 3
Houses demolished as a result of formal or
informal procedure under Section 17 (1) 33
Houses in clearance area demolished 8
Houses closed under Sections 16 (4), 17 (1)
and 35 (1) 1
Houses closed under Sections 17 (3) and 26 —
Parts of buildings closed under Section 18 —
Houses in respect of which agreements entered
into with owners to repair —
Total number of persons displaced 76
From 1946 until the end of 1961, 285 houses have been
dealt with as follows:—
Demolition Orders made 248
Agreements entered into with owners to
"close" or repair or Closing Orders made 37
Houses demolished as a result of formal or
informal action including those in clearance
area 275
Clearance areas declared 1
Persons who have been displaced 859
Housing Repairs
House-to-house inspections of the older houses were
continued and notices served where necessary to remedy
defects. Quite a fair proportion of the houses visited were
found to be owner-occupied and in such cases inspections
were not made. It was not often necessary to recourse to
formal action to enforce repairs. Delays which occurred
seemed to be more often due to inability of builders to