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Somerset County Herald and Taunton Courier Saturday 13 Feb 1960
Page 6 Column 4 and 5
Solicitor Attacks Taunton Council
Wood Street Houses 'On The Cheap' Charge
HOUSES in Wood Street, Taunton, have been condemned as unfit by the Town Council's Medical and Health Officers and it is planned to pull them down.
At an inquiry on Thursday it was stated that the sites, together with the Gas Board's land adjoining, have been zoned in the Town Map as part of a big car park.
But a solicitor, representing some of the owners, accused the Council of using unfair means to get the property on the cheap for a car park.
But for this, he alleged, the owners would have been allowed to modernize their houses, with improvement grants.
This was strongly denied by the Deputy Town Clerk, Mr. W. A. TILL, who maintained that the Council's action had been prompted only by danger to the tenant's health
Dampness
The inquiry concerned No.'s 38-43 Wood Street and 21, Yarde Place.
Mr. J. M. CLOSE represented the owners of 40, 41 and 43, Wood Street, and 21, Yarde Place, and Mr. J. H. HOOPER, Bridgwater, appeared for the owner of 38, Wood Street.
Objections in respect of the other properties had been withdrawn.
The inquiry was heard before an inspector of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, Mr. C. N. BARTLETT.
Mr. TILL said the Chief Public Health Inspector received a complaint about the state of No. 38, Wood Street, and decided also to inspect six adjoining houses. He and the Medical Officer, Dr. Leo FAY, agreed that all the houses were unfit and should be demolished. The Council made a clearance order, which the Minister was being asked to confirm.
Dr. FAY, questioned by Mr. CLOSE, agreed that the main difficulty on health grounds was dampness.
Asked by Mr. HOOPER is this could not be remedied, Dr. FAY said, 'No, they are old houses and the best way is to demolish them'.
The Public Health Officer, Mr. P. J. GOUGH, was questioned about new ways of curing dampness in old houses. He replied, 'I have yet to come across a satisfactory way of dealing with rising dampness'.
Need for Car Park
Mr. GOUGH denied that these houses were chosen because they fitted in with the Council's car park plan.
The Borough Engineer, Mr. E. R. TYZACK, stressed the need for a car park in this locality.
The Housing Officer, Mrs. M. L. PRATT, said there would be no difficulty in finding council houses for the displaced Wood Street tenants.
For the owner of 41-42, Wood Street (Mrs. Lucy STEVENS), Mr. R. M. DUGDALE estimated that the dampness could be cured for £50 a house. In recent months he had sold several houses in far worse condition.
Savings Tied Up
Miss Lucy LAWLESS, tenant of 41, Wood Street for 40 years, said she had never had a serious illness. When Dr. FAY called and told her the dampness was bad for her health, she had told him, 'The Council would not have studied my health if they had not wanted my house for a car park'.
Mrs. Rosina CLAPP, who has lived at 43, Wood Street since 1901, said she did not want to leave. All her savings were tied up in the house.
Mr. HOOPER said the owner of 38, Wood Street, Mrs. Mary TONNARD, now lived at Salmon Parade, Bridgwater. She wanted to get possession for herself.
He added, 'There is a great housing shortage in Taunton and there is a greater need to deal with this, than with car parks'
Council 'Trivialities'
Mr. CLOSE said the evidence seemed to suggest that the Council was trying to avoid paying the full market value by making a clearance order and a compulsory purchase order. 'If,' he said, 'people have to be dislodged from their homes, surely they should be given compensation to enable them to buy something else – and not have their life savings filched from them.
The Council often debate what money people think are trivial matters. Yet they are prepared to spend £11,000 on properties in High Street they do not know what to do with; and they will buy houses for commercial firms, who, one would have thought, could have fended for themselves.
'But they did not even debate this proposal to deprive humble citizens of their belongings at cut-throat prices.
'This cavalier treatment does not look well in a democratic not look well in a democratic state'
Replying, Mr. TILL expressed surprise that Mr. CLOSE should have imputed to the Council dishonest motives. He said that it was untrue to suggest that the action was being taken purely to get a car park. The decision was taken on health grounds.
The Inspector later visited the houses. The decision of his Minister will be announced later.