Council Considering St. Crispin Estate
Sanitary Committee Taking “The Broadest View”
Doomed Houses Re-Let

  Sympathy for the residents of the St. Crispin Estate in their claim for sanitary facilities was expressed at the Rushden Urban Council’s meeting on Wednesday.

  Mr. Allebone asked whether the Chairman of the Sanitary Committee could give the Council more information than they had had up to the present in respect of the sewerage question on the St. Crispin Estate, so that the Council could decide it rather than let it lay on the table for the consideration of the committee.  The Council, he thought, was entitled to more information.

  Mr. Richardson said this question had had the sympathetic consideration of the committee.  They would like the people to have the conveniences they asked for, but they could not quite see their way to comply with their request and in the manner that they requested, seeing that there was a bigger scheme that was being pressed for.  The committee at the last meeting determined that the Surveyor should get out a rough estimate of what the cost was likely to be for the carrying out of the bigger scheme.  That was as far as they had got at present, and it would be done as soon as possible.

  Mr. Allebone: Can we take it that when this is gone into the St. Crispin Estate will be included?

  Mr. Richardson: Yes.

  Mr. Spencer: Could not the smaller scheme be done first and altered if they developed the estate?

  Mr. Richardson: It doesn’t seem possible at present.  There are things for and things that are against.  To some it would be an easy thing, but to others it would be a mighty big expense.  We have to consider it in the broadest way, and we think that if the bigger scheme comes into operation it will easily take in the smaller scheme of the St. Crispin Estate.

Houses Reported

  The Health and Sanitary Committee had under consideration the representations of the Medical Officer of Health in regard to several houses, the whole of which had been inspected by the special sub-committee appointed for the purpose, and were satisfied that these houses, which were occupied by persons of the working classes, were unfit for human habitation and not capable at a reasonable expense of being rendered fit.  They recommended that the Clerk be instructed to serve the necessary notices under the Housing Act, 1930, in respect of No. 6, Mannings-lane, No. 32, High-street South, Nos. 19, 6, 8, 35, 37, 41, 43, 45, 47, and 49, Little-street, Nos. 30 and 12, Montague-street, No. 5, Dayton-street.

  A long discussion on the inclusion of No. 17, Woburn-place in this list arose from a misunderstanding, members evidently assuming that the various properties were scheduled as “slum clearance” areas, whereas the notices were to be served under another section of the Act and gave the owners an opportunity of submitting proposals for improvements.  When this became clear Mr. Roe, who had defended the house mentioned, expressed himself as being satisfied, and an amendment he had proposed was not proceeded with.

  In the course of the discussion Mr. Richardson declared: “We find houses we have already put the closure on have been re-let to tenants at an exorbitant rent.  We can understand there are people who would take these places, possibly with a view to getting a Council house pretty soon.”

Library Arrangements

  A report from the Library Committee specified the hours of attendance of the librarian, the holiday arrangements, etc.  There would be an annual holiday of two weeks, the Council paying for the substitute, but in all other cases of absence the expense of a deputy would be borne by the librarian.

  The hours of lending are to be from 11 to 12 each morning, from 6 to 8 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesday, and Wednesdays, and from 5 to 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

  Mrs. Frank Stringer was thanked for her special services as temporary librarian and during the illness of the late librarian.