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Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health—1898. 29
"Before leaving this important subject it may be well to add in the interests of
the general public health the following suggestions, which if carried out could hardly
fail to add to the comfort and well-being of a poor and crowded population:—(a) The
provision at each of these points of accommodation for both sexes; (b) Ample free
accommodation for both sexes, which appears to be imperatively called for in a poor
district."
At the present time only one public convenience exists for women, namely, that
situated in New Alley near the Parish Church. Tenders have, however, been
received for the construction of conveniences at (a) the junction of the Old and New
Kent Roads, and (b) the rear of the new Public Library Buildings in the Borough
Road.
On the completion of these works I submit that three w.c's. to be provided free
for the use of women will prove to be quite inadequate for the needs of the densely
populated parish of St. George's, Southwark, and more especially so when one takes
into consideration the constant and well-founded complaints of nuisances due to the
improper use by strangers of conveniences in block buildings and of blind alleys and
entries.
26th July, 1898.
Report Re Suggested Demolition of No. 24, Barron's Place.
I should advise your Vestry—the "Local Authority"—to take action under Sec.
36 of the Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890, with a view to the demolition of
No. 24, Barron's Place, Waterloo road. This dwelling-house was closed in February,
1895, on a Magistrate's order under the provisions of the Housing Act, and is in my
opinion in such a condition as to be "dangerous or injurious to the health of the
public or of the inhabitants of the neighbouring dwelling-houses."
20th September, 1898.
(The advice given in this Report has not yet been acted upon.)
Special Report on the Housing of the Poor.
Section 30 of the Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890, states that "It
shall be the duty of the Medical Officer of Health of every district to represent to
the local Authority of that district any dwelling-house which appears to him to be in
a state so dangerous or injurious to health as to be unfit for human habitation.
The machinery of the Act also provides that such representation shall originate
in one of two ways: either—
1. Indirectly on the written complaint to the Medical Officer of Health of any
four or more householders living in or near a street in which any dwelling-house is
thought to be in a state unfit for human habitation ; or
2. On the direct representation of the Medical Officer of Health to the "Local
Authority"—that is to say, in this District, to your Vestry itself.
In compliance with this statutory duty, I beg to report that Nos. 187,189, and
161, Waterloo Road, are in such a state so dangerous or injurious to health as to be
unfit for human habitation; and would accordingly advise your Vestry to puss the usua1
resolution to the effect "That notices be served on the owner or owners to make the
premises fit for human habitation within a specified time, and, failing which, that
proceedings be taken before a Court of summary jurisdiction for prohibiting the use
of the same,"