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10
The sanitary provisions of the Metropolitan Buildings' and Management
Bill, have been frequently commented upon in my Reports to the
Board. My last Report upon this subject was addressed to the Committee
of Works, and dated February 26th, 1868, which I have here transcribed.
"At the last meeting of the Committee of "Works, it was suggested that
I should, at the next meeting, lay before them, in writing, a few observations
upon the sanitary provision contained in the ' Metropolitan Buildings'
and Management Bill,' recently brought into the House of Commons by
Mb. Tite and Colonel Hogg, and promoted by the Metropolitan Board
of Works.
I may remark, in the first place, that the Bill applies only to the
Metropolis, and that the several Building Acts now in force are proposed
to be wholly repealed, their provisions being re-enacted, so far as necessary
and proper, in the Bill.
The clauses which relate to public health are arranged under the
headings—
1, Ventilation and light.
2, Storing of inflammable articles.
3, Dangerous and noxious businesses.
4, Formation of streets,
5, Buildings in streets.
Under the first heading are three clauses, viz.: the 99th, 100th,
and 101st.
The 99th clause proposes, that every inhabited room shall be at least
7 feet in height.) In my opinion, the height of every inhabited room
should be 8 feet. This clause is defective, inasmuch as it makes no provision
for the ventilation of the room, either by insisting that there should
be a window opening into an open space, and that such window should be
so constructed that it might be opened at the top. This clause is further
defective in not making provision for placing an open fire-place in every
inhabited room.
The 100th clause has, unfortunately, been altered from the corresponding
clause in the Draft Bill, by the insertion of certain words, which
give the appearance of sanctioning the building of houses back to back, and
is, consequently, defective ; for health cannot be secured in any house in
which there is not a thorough ventilation. Under this clause, it should be
enacted that no addition be made to any house which will tend to diminish
the minimum space allowed for ventilation and light.
Examples having occurred in the Whitechapel District how the provisions
of the existing Building Acts have been evaded, by the piecemeal
re-construction of houses, provision does not appear to have been made to
prevent the recurrence of similar proceedings; neither does it make suitable
provision to prevent the alteration of warehouses, stables, or sheds, into
houses for habitation, uncontrolled by the Board. And lastly, no provision
is made for placing within the curtilage of each dwelling-house, a proper
water-closet or privy, and ash-pit, whereby the nuisances now existing in
several courts, from public privies and ash-pits; may not be perpetuated.