[Report 1954] / Medical Officer of Health, Liskeard Borough.

  • Liskeard (England). Borough Council.
Date:
1954
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1954] / Medical Officer of Health, Liskeard Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    6/20 (page 4)
    / ones attention is being increasingly focused on old, sub-standard houses either singly, or in groups, whose condition and state of dilapidation is such that the only means of dealing with them is by closing on demolition. Many of the people who occupy these houses have up jso now been overlooked in the anxiety to provide new houses for families living under even worse conditions, and the occupants themselves, many of whom are unable or unwilling to pay the higher rent of a new house, have not been very active in drawing attention to their unsatisfactory living conditions. Early in 1954 the Ministry of Housing and Local Government directed that local authorities should now take up as a matter of urgency, and after a lapse of some 15 years the question of slum clearance. All local authorities are now required to place before the Minister by August 1955 their proposals for dealing with slum areas, and we all hope that this will mark the beginning of a campaign to eliminate worn-out, unsound, and unhealthy dwellings, especially where in urban areas these are crowded together in small courtyards, and alleys. Naturally accommodation will have to be found for those displaced from slum houses and this inevitably means the provision of more new Council houses to meet this specific need , in addition to whatever programme of new construction needed to meet normal demand. Whilst we all recognise, and are anxious over the additional financial burden that slum clearance schemes will impose on national, and local finances, we cannot in justice provide up-to-date, and healthy housing for a part of the community, and allow dilapidated and un¬ healthy houses, without convenience or amenity to continue as dwelling places. This area being mainly rural in character the concentration of slum dwellings is nowhere very great, and it should be possible to find a slower, and more gradual solution of the problem than is possible in large towns, and cities. In the field of water supply the principal event of 1954 was the constitution of the- Liskeard and District Water Board, The primary task of this authority will be the supply of water in bulk to the Liskeard Rural District and the Borough of Liskeard. The latter authority has of course had an excellent supply for many years, and indeed the first part of the new Boards scheme is based on the expansion of reservoirs and treatment plant on St, Cleer Downs previously owned, and operated by the Borough of Liskeard. Water from the River Powey will be collected at a point near Trekieve Stpps, and will bo fed by a large diameter intake main to tho enlarged reservoir and treatment works at St, Cleer. Prom there it will be available for distribution over a wide area of tho Liskeard Rural District, and perhaps in later years to adjoining districts if required. The scheme should prove a great benefit to the Liskeard Rural District where at present the inhabitants are dependent on small local supplies of doubtful or frankly poor quality, liable to fail in dry weather. As with rural electrification it should do much to increase efficiency in, and remove some of the drudgery from the faming industry, and it might in some small way help to stem the drift of population away from rural areas to towns and cities. In otherparts of the /urea there were no outstanding developments in this field but progress was made extending, and improving existing supplies. As far as sewage disposal was concerned, although many schemes were prepared and sent forward for approval very little was done in the actual construction of sewage disposal plants on any scale. The great need for sewage disposal is widespread and although the Ministry concerned agrees in principal with the need for such schemes, it is not possible in the national interest to allow unrestricted work to take place on all schemes put forward not only in this Area but throughout the whole country. Thus whilst members, and officials of District Councils may be anxious to see rapid progress in the provision of proper sewage disposal arrangements,we must necessarily accept the restraints imposed by the Central Government. I would not wish to close this preface without expressing ny sincere thanks to the members, and officers of District Councils from whom I have at all times received assistance, and encouragement in carrying out my duties during the year 1954* I trust that I may count on their continued co-operation for as long as it is my privilege to serve the interests of Public Health in this Area. I have the honour to be Your Worship, Ladies and Gentlemen, Your obedient Servant, P.J. POX, Medioal Officer of Health, 4: