14th September 1967
Applications from industry

The inquiry, conducted for the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, was to hear objectors to the compulsory purchase by the Corporation of land and property at Tanshelf. Told by Mr. Richmond that the land was zoned as a light industrial area, Mr. Whelan asked; "What is the position in regard to land in the town?"

Mr. Richmond: "We are very short indeed, for both light and general industry. This area is now a lively one commercially, with highway developments, and I get applications almost weekly from possible industries."

Presenting the case for the Corporation, Deputy Town Clerk, Mr L.A.Tawn, said there were 62 houses in the clearance area, involving the re-housing of 222 people. Objections had been received for 22 properties and in the case for a further six, claims had been made for ‘well- maintained’ payments.

The properties which are the subject of objections are in Duke Street, Princess Street and Stuart Street.

The objectors were Mr. J.E. Whittaker and Mrs Ada Bell Webb, owners of 17 houses; Mr. John Schofield, Mr. John Morton and Mr. John William Haigh, all owner-occupiers of one house each; and Mr. John Watts, owner of a house with shop.

The executors of W. Morris claimed for ‘well maintained’ payments for six houses. The Medical Officer of Health, Dr. J.F. Fraser, had stated, said Mr. Tawn, that the houses were unfit for human habitation or were, because of their bad arrangements or the narrowness or bad arrangements of the streets, dangerous or injurious to the health of the inhabitants.

Replying to Mr. G. Dickenson, who represented several objectors, Dr. Fraser said the properties had certain common factors; damp, poor natural lighting and some degree of structural disrepair.

The properties were at least 70 years old, said Mr. Richmond. He was satisfied that by the time the houses were demolished the Corporation would be able to re-house displaced tenants.

An average of £400 required to put the houses in order would be out of proportion to their value, he said. Mr. Richmond added that an ‘outer road’ was scheduled in the Tanshelf area for 1969.

"A first impression of Stuart Street leaves one with a very dismal feeling," admitted Mr. Dickenson. "There are properties which the Corporation has bought, or is in the process of buying, which are partly occupied and partly unoccupied which, perhaps give people the impression that this is a slum area. Whether this is intended I don't know."

Mr. J.E. Whittaker said he was financially willing and able to go ahead with improvements on his properties.

Mr. D.C. Eyre, the solicitor representing owner-occupier Mr. J. Watts, summed up the objectors case when he said:

"If a house is declared unfit, compensation is paid on something like the site value. The Corporation is trying to devalue property. When a local authority is requiring premises it should be prepared to pay a fair market value, having regard to the properties estimated life."

Concluding the Corporation's case, Mr. Tawn said local authorities must have regard to priorities. It had been said the objectors had no objection to the order as such, but only to the provisions for compensation.

"Without being critical of the legislation," he went on "It seems unfortunate that the compensation provisions turn on a classification of the property [fit or un-fit] but that is inevitable and we must take things as they are. This all turns on a question of degree."

He asked Mr. Whelan to recommend to the Ministry that the order be confirmed.

[ 1967 Index ]