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
Heston and Isleworth 1961
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Heston and Isleworth]
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HOUSING
The numbers of new houses erected in the Borough in post-war years is shown
below:-
1946-57
1958
1959
1960
1961
Heston and Isleworth B.C.
1,718
98
12
60
32
Brentford and Chiswick B.C.
56
6
-
-
-
Southall B. C.
64
-
-
-
-
Middlesex County Council
5
-
1
1
12
Ministry of Civil Aviation
77
-
-
-
-
Metropolitan Police
29
-
-
-
-
Prison Commissioners
18
-
-
-
-
War Department
-
-
34
-
-
British Waterways
-
-
-
1
Private Enterprise -
(a) new bouses
889
168
279
140
34
(b) reconstructed after war
destruction
185
-
-
-
.
(c) housing association
429
-
-
-
-
(d) additional dwellings by
conversion
3
-
-
-
-
3,473
272
326
201
79
What action is to be taken concerning unfit houses is governed by the cost of
the necessary works. Unless the house 'is capable at reasonable expense of being
rendered fit' action must be in the direction of closing or demolition. "Reasonable
expense' has never been defined and with restrictions on rents and the high cost of
repairs, its interpretation is far from easy, but the Housing Act, 1957 has now
defined the matters to be taken into consideration in assessing fitness for human
habitat ion.
The action taken in insanitary and unfit dwelling houses during the year is
summarised as follows:-
1 INSPECTION OP DWELLING-HOUSFS DURING THE YEAR:
(1) (a) Total number of dwelling houses inspected for
housing defects (under Public Health and
Housing Acts) .. .. .. .. .. 132
(b) Number of inspections made for the purpose .. .. 193
(2) (a) Number of dwelling-houses (included under
head (1) above) which were inspected and
recorded under Housing Regulations, 1925 and 1932 .. 64
(b) Number of inspections made for the purpose .. 125
(3) (a) Number of dwelling-houses found to be in a state
so dangerous or injurious to health as to be
unfit for human habitation .. .. .. .. 49
(4) Number of dwelling-houses (exclusive of those
referred to under the preceding sub-head) found
not to be in all respects reasonably fit for human
habitat ion .. . .. .. .. .. ,. 65
2 REMEDY OF DEFECTS DURING THE YEAR WITHOUT SERVICE OF FORMAL NOTICES:
Number of defective dwelling-houses rendered fit in
consequence of informal action by the Local Authority
or their Officers .. . . .. .. .. 76
27