[Report 1931] / Medical Officer of Health, Banff County Council.

  • Banffshire (Scotland). County Council.
Date:
1931
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1931] / Medical Officer of Health, Banff County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    34/56 (page 32)
    condition that at reasonable expense could be made in all respects fit for habitation, 5 were in a condition approaching unfitness for habitation, and 2 were unfit for habitation. Closing orders were made in respect of the last mentioned dwelling-houses. During the year 5 defective dwelling- houses mentioned in 1930 report were reconditioned by the aid of a grant under the Housing (Rural Workers) Act 1926. The really defective houses in the county arc situated in the rural area of the county and are occupied by persons in poor circumstances and consequently are only able to pay a very small rent, in some instances £1 per annum being the rent charged. The owners of these houses state that the small rent received does not warrant them expending money to recondi- tion them even with the aid of a grant under the Housing (Rural Workers) Act. The solution to this problem is diffi- cult to find unless new houses are built and let at a nominal rent of about ^5 per annum. The Landward members of the County Council are meantime considering what should best be done to improve the housing conditions in the rural areas, particularly in view of the additional grant under the Housing (Rural Authorities) Act 1931. In the 1930 report mention was made of the serious sub-letting in the special districts of Gardenstown, Whitehills and Portgordon. The conditions in 1931 were similar. No new dwelling-houses were erected in any of these districts which would help to relieve the overcrowded condition of these villages. As far as is known only 3 dwelling-houses were erected in the rural area of the county without the aid of a subsidy during 1931. 18 men’s sleeping apartments were inspected during the year. 6 intimations were served, particular^ in regard to defective heating arrangements and cleansing. Housing (Rural Workers) Act, 1926.—During the year considerable progress has been made in the reconditioning of dwelling-houses under the Housing (Rural Workers) Act, 1926, and 29 applications were approved by the County Council and Certificate A granted for the following: — The conversion of a mill into two cottar houses at Old Crombie, Marnoch.' The conversion of a shop into a dwell- ing-house at Tollhouse, Blacklaw. The provision of a water supply and reconditioning of dwelling-house at Westside, Carnousie, Forglen: The reconditioning of dwelling-house, provision of water supply, W.C., &c., at Stripeside, Glen of Newmill. The reconditioning of cottar house at Westerton, Drummuir. The reconditioning of dwelling-house at 12 Knock Street, Whitehills. The provision of a water W.C., drainage, &c., for two cottar houses at Tullochallum, Mort- lacli. The reconditioning of dwelling-house at Craig Cot-