On This Day, 14 May 1918

Birmingham Daily Post

Tuesday 14 May 1918

WOLVERHAMPTON’S HOUSING PROBLEM.

CORPORATION DECIDE TO ERECT SIXTY HOUSES IMMEDIATELY.

At Wolverhampton Town Council yesterday, Alderman Skidmore moved that the Council authorise the Housing Committee to take all necessary steps to proceed at once with the Green Lane housing scheme, subject to a satisfactory contribution by the Government towards the cost being obtained It involved the building of 60 houses at once, although a larger number would be required after the war, and the committee were endeavouring to get an option on some sites.

Alderman Craddock said he was appalled at the extent of overcrowding in the borough. “We want houses,” he said; whilst Councillor Walsh remarked that the scheme simply touched the fringe of a great problem.

Councillor Bent believed people would be willing to pay such rents as would make the houses profitable to the Corporation.

The Mayor (Councillor Myatt) urged the necessity of the erection of dwellings without delay. He pointed to the need for making adequate housing provision for the soldiers returning from the war and townspeople generally, and said that duty devolved on public authorities to provide such houses as would allow British citizens to bring up their offspring as they should be brought up.

The resolution was adopted, Alderman Skidmore mentioning that it was a special one, apart altogether for a scheme of providing 630 houses held up by the war.