[Report 1919] / Medical Officer of Health, Kendal Borough.

  • Kendal (England). Borough Council.
Date:
1919
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1919] / Medical Officer of Health, Kendal Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    20/28 (page 20)
    lit, it was not considered wise to issue any Closing Orders, on account of the shortage of houses. A general survey of the housing needs in the Borough was made in October and the following facts were submitted to the Ministry of Health :— Total number of houses in district . . . . . . . . 3350 No. let at less than £16 per annum . . . . . . 2332 No. let between /16 and £20 do. . . . . . . . . 612 No. of houses built between jam, 1915 and Dec., 1918 . . 35 Average number built per annum during 5 years prior to 1914 . . . . .. .. . . . . . . 20 No. of houses occupied by more than one family . . 50 (1) No. of houses required during next 3 years to meet the demand on account of overcrowding, &c. . . 56 (2) To replace dwellings which are not lit for habitation and cannot be made fit . . . . . . . . 205 (3) To meet deficiences owing to industrial development 10 Total . . 271 Less number likely to built by private enterprise . . 15 No. required . . 256 The survey disclosed that there are 205 houses in the district which are not and cannot be made fit for habitation and there are also 499 houses which are seriously defective. With regard to the 205 houses, the main reason that they cannot be made fit is that they are situated for the most part in narrow yards and lack air space and in many cases are back to back. The improve- ments to the 499 can only be made by the demolition of the 205, thereby providing a sufficient air space surrounding each house, direct sunlight and through ventilation. Before any serious attempt can be made to carry out these improvements new houses will have to be erected to accommodate the dispossessed tenants. The present standard of sufficiency of sanitary accommodation approved by the Health Committee, viz. : 1 W.C. for 3 houses, should in the interests of decency be gradually amended until each house has its own separate sanitary accommodation. The question of overcrowding is a very difficult one and cannot be dealt with properly until more housing accommodation is provided. Many cases of overcrowding were discovered but nothing could be done to abate these owing to the existing shortage of houses. Factories and Workshops. Inspection. Inspections. Notices. Factories 67 5 Workshops • . . . . • • • 426 9 Workplaces . . 53 0 54<J