[Report 1937] / Medical Officer of Health, Caernarvonshire Combined Sanitary Districts (Bangor City, Conway Borough, Bethesda U.D.C., Betws y Coed U.D.C., Llandudno U.D.C., Llanfairfechan U.D.C., Penmaenmawr U.D.C., Nant Conway R.D.C., Ogwen R.D.C., Caernarvon Borough, Pwllheli Borough, Criccieth U.D.C., Portmadoc U.D.C., Gwyrfai R.D.C., Lleyn R.D.C.).

  • Caernarvonshire Combined Sanitary Districts.
Date:
1937
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1937] / Medical Officer of Health, Caernarvonshire Combined Sanitary Districts (Bangor City, Conway Borough, Bethesda U.D.C., Betws y Coed U.D.C., Llandudno U.D.C., Llanfairfechan U.D.C., Penmaenmawr U.D.C., Nant Conway R.D.C., Ogwen R.D.C., Caernarvon Borough, Pwllheli Borough, Criccieth U.D.C., Portmadoc U.D.C., Gwyrfai R.D.C., Lleyn R.D.C.). Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    7? desirability of these wooden bungalows : also of using discarded houses as Summer residences. Apart from the question of the type of house, it may be said that there is land suitable for de- velopment at Morfa Bychan and Borthygest. The Council, about 3 years ago adopted a Scheme for building 25 workmen’s dwellings. These were to be of the Parlour Type, with 3 bedrooms. They were to be built in blocks of 2. The Council applied to the Ministry for consent to a loan to erect these houses, but the Ministry adhered to its new policy of with-holding sanction from building houses other than those of the Non-parlour type. It is true that a greater number of Non-parlour houses than of Parlour houses could be built for the same money, but the building of a good number of Parlour-houses (unless let to outsiders) would also mdirectly on the principle of “ moving ujj or upward filtration ” benefit the housing conditions of the poorest classes. A parlour moreover can be used as a bedroom, in the case of large families, and where there are one or two Tubercular members of the family that require segregation. The Ministry by limiting houses to Non-parlour ones are placing Urban Districts on the same level as Rural Districts, whereas a higher standard has always been expected from Urban Districts, to wit, Urban Building Bye-laws as compared with Rural Build- ing Byelaws. Besides, the difference in cost hardly counterbalances the disadvantage. Private Building of Houses.—Privately-built Houses help to reduce the Housing Shortage. Such private houses are being built in various parts of the District. For example, 42 such houses have been built, or, are in building, by one private person on the Meadow Estate at Portmadoc. Self-Supporting Houses.—Apart from Replacement Houses (Houses to replace Slum Houses and Overcrowded Houses), it might be desirable to build a number of Self-supporting house.st (with a Parlour, &c.). It would require the Ministry’s consent, although the Council would no- receive grants. They would expect the Council to carry through the Slum Clearance and Over crowding Act first, or at least pari passu. After the collapse of the Addison Scheme, no fresh efforts towards a Municipal Housing Scheme had been made. While there may have been no acute numerical or quantitative shortage there was no doubt a qualitative shortage, that is, there were a number of defective houses which could be diserted or closed were a number of municipal houses erected. Arguments that were adduced for going in for a Housing Scheme were (1) that the G.W.R. had complained of a dearth of houses for their employees (2) that newly-married couples had to go to rooms (3) that landlords were pestered with applications, and (4) that Portmadoc Council was about the only Urban Council in North Wales that had not gone in for a Housing Scheme. Occupants of unfit houses complained to me that they could not get other houses with more accommodation and m better satate of repair. The Medical Officer made a fairly exhaustive inspection of the Housing conditions and presented a Report to the Council. The Slum Clearance Act, 1930.—In September, 1931, I reijresented 7 small areas in the Dis- trict as Clearance Areas. These comprised (in addition to some derelict or dilapidated out- buildings), 23 houses, 17 of which were inhabited. At one time, it seemed as if the ]>rincipal owner and the Council would come to terms as to agreed demolition, with selling of th(' site by the owner to the Council for Re-Housing purposes. The Council made formal Clearance Orders with respect to the condemned areas, and a Public Inquiry was held by a Government Architect. The result was that the Council’s Clearance Orders were confirmed, practically in their entirety. Housing Schemes.—Land was purchased by the Council at Portmadoc and Tremadoc for the purpose of Re-housing (to the extent of 22 houses), viz., 16 for Portmadoc and 6 for Tremadoc, and such houses have been completed. The Council are now considering a General Scheme for the erection of up to 50 houses. They are at present negotiating for approximately acres of land for the erection of a maximum of 80 houses.