[Report 1925] / Medical Officer of Health, St Helens County Borough.

  • St. Helens (Merseyside, England). County Borough Council.
Date:
1925
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1925] / Medical Officer of Health, St Helens County Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    102/110 (page 90)
    XII.—HOUSING. Progress in the reduction of the house shortage in St. Helens is still very disappointing. Since 1914 the population has increased by 8825 persons, yet only 880 houses have been built. This means that the rate of building is not even sufficient to cope with the increase of population, far less to replace houses that should be condemned. The amount of overcrowding that exists to-day is appalling, and if allowed to continue will be the cause of much ill health in later years. 1 hat so far no very serious epidemic has occurred is a matter for congratulation. Apart from the ill health likely to be caused by overcrowd¬ ing, there is the further danger to health caused by persons living in o Id dil apidated and insanitary houses. Under ordinary circum¬ stances such houses would be certified as unfit for human habitation, but with existing shortage it is impossible to close them. No attempt has yet been made to deal with unhealthy areas as these necessarily must wait until more houses are available. The areas suggested are Greenbank, Russell Street, and Peasley Cross, involving approximately 47 acres and 1214. houses. Of the 247 ho uses erected during 1925, 219 were subsidy houses, and, of these, 74 were erected by the Local Authority and 145 by private or commercial enterprise. During the year building operations were commenced by the Corporation for a further 1 44 houses on the following sites Pocket Nook . .'. 52 Scholes Lane . . 46 Gower Street . . 8 Lacey Street . .. 38 144 The numb er of dwelling houses erected in each ward since 1904 is shown in Table 39.