Reluctantly accepting, at Wednesday’s meeting, a Ministry of Health Revision of the local plans for lay-out of the temporary housing estate off Park-road, Rushden Urban Council came up against a strange problem in estate planning.  The problem was how to give houses a southerly aspect without knowing whether the living room will be at the front or the back.

  In connection with the Park-road site for temporary houses the Housing Committee recommended that the Cemetery Field should revert to its old use as a public open space when the houses are removed.  The Acting County Planning Officer (Mr. Gregory) has advised that the additional land should also become a public open space, but the Council could not commit themselves on this point.

  Efforts are being made to get the school shelter and the N.F.S. water basin removed.

  Following receipt of the District Valuer’s report, it was agreed to apply for consent to a loan of £525 for the additional land – about 2.4 acres belonging to Mr. Smith, of Wymington.

  The Surveyor’s first lay-out of the site had a playing field for children as a central feature and roads on the north and south sides.  As many trees as possible were preserved.

  Objections, however, were raised by the Senior Regional Officer of the Ministry of Health, who said that more than half of the houses were shown with a northerly aspect and that the construction of a cul-de-sac, developed on one side only, and the provision of a footpath at Pightles-terrace would make the site uneconomic.

  This officer sent a suggested revised plan which left out the children’s playground.

Rather Difficult

  The Surveyor’s comment was that some of the Government bungalows had the living room at the front and others had it at the rear.  As the Council did not know which type would be supplied, it was difficult to arrange for southern aspects!  He had, however, prepared a fresh plan – one which still included a children’s playground.

  The Clerk (Mr. T. L. Watts) said that in order to save delay he sent Mr. Lloyd’s new plan to the Regional Officer at Nottingham on Monday.  By ‘phone on Wednesday afternoon however, the Ministry said they were not prepared to accept it.  They wished the Council to adopt the Ministry’s plan, but would allow them to make provision for a playing field, though smaller than the one planned by the Council.

  Asking if any specific reason had been given, Coun. A. H. Bailey declared: “We don’t know the type of house we can have, yet they get up and talk about southern and northern aspects.”

  Coun. T. W. Cox:  The Ministry apparently think their plan is a perfect plan.  We thought we were meeting their request by turning a few of the houses; it was impossible to put them all right – some must be north and some south.

Intent On “Circus”

  Coun. A. F. Weale said he thought there was “not a great deal in it between the rival plans.”  The Ministry seemed determined to have a little circus there, and he did not think it would make a vast amount of difference.

  Coun. W. E. Capon said they should accept the Ministry’s plan.  If they provided a playground the children would still play against the lamp-posts.

  Coun. F. Green took a militant attitude, and Coun. J. T. Richardson recalled that the Government interfered with the Irchester-road plans some years ago.  The Surveyor’s plan was better than the Ministry’s, and he thought they should contend for it.

  The Clerk (Mr. T. L. Watts) said the Ministry considered that the road costs on the Surveyor’s plans would be too high.

  Coun. J. E. Dilks complained of the committee’s wasted time.

  Coun. E. A. Sugars said there was still time for the Council to take a stand, but Mrs. Muxlow retorted that the matter was one of urgency.  “If we were looking at it from the tenants’ point of view we should not be quite so particular about the plans,” she said.

  It was finally decided to bow to the Ministry, but Couns. Green and Swindall voted against the resolution.

Permanent Site

  It was learned that the permanent housing site off Higham-road would cost £9,432 for roads, £3,090 for the storm water sewers and £939 for the foul water sewer.  The Council decided to seek consent to raise loans of £9,527 for road works and £4,104 for sewers.

  Couns. Cox and Swindall were deputed to confer with Higham Ferrers Town Council on questions of joint liability on this estate.

  At the request of the Gas Company the Council agreed to issue a statement that gas would be needed on the site.  While unable at present to specify the uses of gas and electricity in the houses, they desired that provision should be made for both services.

  The Housing Manager (Mr. H. C. Allen) reported that 165 applications for Council houses were received last year.  There were now 250 “live” applications before the Council, about 80 per cent of them being members or ex-members of the Forces.

  When Coun. Allen asked what was meant by a “live” application, Coun. J. H. J. Paragreen said the form issued to applicants stated that the application should be renewed every year so that the Council would know in each case if the house was still needed.

Future of N.F.S.

  A letter from the National Fire Brigades’ Association recommended that the post-war Fire Service should be under the control of co-ordinated local authorities “with such grants and reasonable supervision of a central authority” as would ensure efficiency.  In view of a recent resolution of the Urban District Councils’ Association the Council felt that no action need be taken on the letter.  The U.D.C.A. favours the reversion of the service to local authorities under the Fire Brigades’ Act, 1938.

  In reply to the Council’s protest against the closing of the Rushden County Court Office the Registrar has stated that the retention of the office would not be justified as the amount of business transacted there last year was almost negligible.

  The Medical Officer (Dr. D. A. McCracken) reported one case of tuberculosis, four of scarlet fever, four of pneumonia, two of whooping cough and three of measles.  Last month there were 23 births (16 males) and 18 deaths (6 males).

  The Librarian (Miss M. Perkins) reported that 33,710 volumes were issued during the quarter ended December 31^st.  The membership was 4,768 adults (increase 112), with 133 non-resident members.  Seventy-two books were presented to the library.

Appointments

  Coun. Allen was appointed to the Wellingborough Area Assessment Committee and Coun. Paragreen to the Parochial Charities and Cottage Hospital Committee.  These gentlemen take seats vacated by Mr. Joseph Hornsby.

  Arising from a conference of the Urban District Councils Association, the Council passed a resolution in support of the White Paper on local government during the period of reconstruction.

  In attendance were Couns. Dr. R. W. Davies (Chairman), H. Waring (Vice-Chairman), A. H. Bailey, J. Roe, C.C., T. W. Cox, F. Green, J.P., Mrs. O. A. H. Muxlow, J. Allen, W. E. Capon, A. F. Weale, J. George, T. J. Swindall, J. E. Dilks, J. H. J. Paragreen, W. J. Sawford, E. A. Sugars and J. T. Richardson, J.P.

  An apology for absence was received from Coun. A. Allebone, J.P., C.A.