HC Deb 08 March 1887 vol 311 cc1590-1
LORD HENRY BRUCE (Wilts, Chippenham)

asked the Chairman of the Metropolitan Board of Works, Whether the Bell Lane Area Whitechapel Union has been condemned as containing buildings unfit for human habitation, and that the Metropolitan Board of Works has visited this site more than once and condemned it; is he aware that, in answer to a deputation of the Local Board of Works more than two years since, a promise was made that the site should be dealt with, and nothing has been yet done; and, when the matter is going to be taken in hand?

THE CHAIRMAN (Sir JAMES M'GAREL-HOGG) (Middlesex, Hornsey)

The area referred to by the noble Lord has been condemned by the Medical Officer of the Whitechapel District, and a Committee of the Metropolitan Board has inspected the site more than once. No resolution has yet been arrived at by the Board; but the Committee, when viewing the locality, expressed their opinion that a scheme should at some time be prepared for it. A deputation attended the Board on the 3rd of July, 1885; but there is no record on the Minutes of any promise on the part of the Board to deal with the site. I may add that the Board's reasons for not dealing with the area at present are substantially that there are other places with equal or superior claims, and that the Bell Lane area immediately adjoins the Goulston Street and Flower and Dean Street areas, from which more than 3,000 persons have been displaced, while the City Authorities have also displaced large numbers of persons from the immediate vicinity. The matter will again be considered in the course of the present year.