LEAMINGTON SLUM CLEARANCE
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—The articles on the slum evil in your recent issues encourage me to hope that your readers maybe interested to hear of the efforts of the Leamington Slum Clearance Society. Leamington is a beautiful town, with a high reputation as a health and pleasure resort. Unfortunately, at the time of its building little was known of hygiene, and at that time what was not seen was not greatly considered. Consequently, we have in our midst, hidden away behind the main streets, in congested courts, eighty-two houses described by the M.O.H. as totally unfit for human habitation. In some of these houses ten or twelve people are living in three, or even in two rooms ; one outdoor water-tap, one washhouse, and one lavatory (often without water laid on) has to serve several houses.
Besides this the shortage of houses is aggravated by the proximity of Birmingham and Coventry, and families are crowded in one or two rooms, in attics, basements and stables. The Corporation is building annually, up to the limit allowed by the Ministry of Health, and has recently closed several basements, but is still far from catching up with the shortage. In these circumstances they naturally feel they cannot at present attempt any municipal scheme of clearance.
Early in 1926 they were approached by the hon. solicitor of this Society with the following offer :- The Society undertook to collect funds, on a philanthropic basis, for building new houses, if the local authority would undertake to regard them as alternative accommodation and exercise their powers to enforce closure of an equal number of uninhabitable dwellings. The new houses would be let at whatever rent should, eventually, prove economically and practically possible. This suggestion was greeted warmly by the local authority, who granted a subsidy of £4 10s. per house, per annum, in addition to the Government subsidy under the 1924 Act. Up to the present time rather over £4,000 has been contributed in free gifts ; and eight non- parlour houses, with three bedrooms, bathroom, lavatory, and cycle-house, are nearly completed.
At this juncture the Society has applied to the Housing Committee to follow up their original undertaking to " issue closing orders, house by house, where applicable," by a definite application to certain specific blocks. The answer to this has been unavoidably delayed by vacations, but, in the event of our receiving an affirmative reply, the selection of tenants will be completed, and we hope shortly to be able to inform your readers that Leamington Town Council has demolished eight uninhabitable dwellings in a crowded area.
The Leamington Slum Clearance Society has only attempted a very small beginning, in the hope that, with a foundation of free capital, subsequent work may go on more quickly. All the professional work is entirely voluntary, as the Society enjoys the services of honorary architects, solicitor, estate- manager, treasurer, and auditor. The Committee of twelve, of the laity, has reeeived active support from every religious denomination, and is representative of almost every interest in the town.—I am, Sir, &c.,' MAUD F. SALT, Hon. Sec. Leamington Slum Clearance Society. [We congratulate the Leamington Slum Clearance Society. on its excellent work. We hope that many similar slum- clearance societies will be established where they do not already exist. The public conscience is slowly stirring on the slum question, and the many housing groups which are being established throughout the country is proof that there are many who are dissatisfied with what the public authorities are doing.—En. Spectator.]
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