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91
the question of clearance as against cost or possibility of reconditioning again
considered in all its aspects, is a Representation made. Moreover, the fullest exchange
of views occurs between the County Council officials and ourselves before Representations
are made, each Authority thus having the advantage of an independent
opinion.
I can but emphasise the remark made earlier in my Report as regards my
Representations, that the intervention of these experts has not resulted in saving
an area, or the taking out of a single house from a Borough Council clearance order,
and under the circumstances this is not surprising.
Possibly the most interesting defence was that of property in the Duncan Square
area, because this appalling property was first represented by my predecessor,
Dr. King Warry, to be unfit for human habitation in the year 1900. To Dr. King
Warry demolition was a policy of despair; he points out that demolition often
accentuated the evils of the housing situation in the Borough. Demolition without
alternative housing accommodation, he considered, made a deplorable situation
worse and as long as property could be "botched" and kept in use he followed that
line of action. However, Dr. King Warry was forced to represent this area and it is
certain that the intervening years, spent in abating nuisances as they arose, as far
as possible, without any attempts at reconditioning, had not improved the property.
The Clearance Order in respect of Duncan Square was confirmed and an area
which has been a considerable source of trouble for a long period has been replaced
by habitable dwellings.
The total number of dwellings "Represented" by me under the Housing Acts
is 1,577, which includes the 493 dwellings represented direct to the London County
Council in 1929 and apart from the areas represented in the first instance by myself,
but taken over by the London County Council I have now represented to the Borough
Council all the Clearance Areas contained in the Council's first and second five-year
programmes, and, to the end of 1937, a total of 61 Clearance Areas, comprising
943 houses with a population of 4,410 residents, have been considered by the Borough
Council.
The London County Council have taken over 19 areas, comprising approximately
1,024 houses, including both Clearance and Compulsory Purchase Orders.
The following table published by the London County Council shows the position
as at 30th September, 1936, as regards Clearance Areas declared by the Metropolitan
Borough Councils under the Housing Act, 1930 :—