View report page

As stated in previous reports there is no means of ascertaining the
exact figure of overcrowding short of a total survey of the district. The
figures recorded above are the result of information which comes to us
in the course of routine day to day work, but the number of omissions,
if any, can only be small since people in such conditions seldom fail to make
their needs known.
There is no doubt that with shrinkage of the population over the
last decade, the average level of housing occupancy has fallen and the
average age of the population has risen. If one could redistribute the
population among the available accommodation with complete disregard
to the occupant's feelings, the housing problem would be much less acute,
but ethical considerations make such a course possible only by agreement.
Meantime there is need for further accommodation for the elderly whose
families have left home and are at present living in dwellings larger than
their requirements.

Slum Clearance and Demolition
During the year eight families were rehoused from Clearance Area
No. 10 (Orchard Hill) leaving three families still in occupation. The
rehousing of these families is expected during the early part of next year.
In April representations were made to the Council in respect of the
following Clearance Areas:—
No. 11—North Street involving 13 houses
No. 15—St. James Road involving 6 houses
No. 16—Mill Lane involving 6 houses
No. 22—William Street involving 17 houses
The Council decided to proceed by way of Compulsory Purchase Order
in respect of Areas Nos. 15 and 16 and by way of Clearance Orders in respest
of Areas Nos. 11 and 22.
The Minister has confirmed all the orders without modification.
Housing Act, 1961—Houses in Multiple Occupation
Part II of this Act contains provision for regulations to be made
prescribing a code of management to individual houses, for the provision
of reasonable facilities and amenities and for limiting the number of
occupants where such houses are in multiple occupation. Such regulations
were passed in May 1962. As the Minister of Housing states these are
strong powers, but they are designed to deal primarily with the worst type
of multi-occupied house where nothing less than strong action would be
likely to achieve results. As a result of the regulations, standards were
adopted in relation to the following matters:—
Natural and artificial lighting, ventilation, water supply, personal
washing facilities, drainage and sanitary conveniences, facilities
36