London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Hackney 1956
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]
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43
requirements of Section 1 of the Housing Repairs and Rents Act, 1954,
were approved. These proposals provided for the clearance by the
London County Council of 95 houses in 6 areas and by the Borough Council
of 62 houses in 7 areas. Exclusive of these 157 houses, the proposals
submitted included, in accordance with the directions of the Minister, a
further 250 houses represented as part of the 1951/55 clearance programme.,
but not demolished at the time the new proposals were submitted.
The following areas were represented and clearance orders were made by the Borough Council, but the Minister's confirmation had not been received at the end of the year.
| Area | No. of houses | No. of families |
|---|---|---|
| Downham Road | 14 | 20 |
| Holmbrook Street | 12 | 17 |
The London County Council represented an area of 31 houses (Marlow
Road Area) and made a Compulsory Purchase Order in respect of this area
and some 120 adjoining houses.
The following is a summary of action taken under the Housing Act,
1936, and the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1953, in
respect of unfit houses.
SECTION 11
| Demolition Orders made | 2 |
| Houses demolished | 4 |
| Closing Orders made | 1 |
| Closing Orders determined | 1 |
| SECTION 12 | |
| Closing Orders made (Underground Rooms) | 34 |
| Undertaking to render premises fit for human habitation. | 2 |
| Undertaking not to use for human habitation | 1 |
| Undertaking cancelled, rooms made fit | 2 |
| SECTION 25 | |
| Areas represented | 2 |
| Number of houses therein | 26 |
Part IV (Abatement of overcrowding)
SECTION 57 (Duty of local authority to inspect and to make reports and
proposals as to overcrowding). At the end of 1955 overcrowded dwellings
to the number of 772 were recorded in the department and 43 new cases
were added to the register during the year under review. Overcrowding
in two cases was abated by rehousing by the London County Council and in
26 instances by the Borough Council in four instances overcrowding was
abated by families finding other accommodation,
SECTION 59 (Offences in relation to overcrowding). No statutory
action was taken in respect of any dwelling reported to be overcrowded,