Since Saturday there has been a constantly growing inrush of air-raid refugees from the London district into Luton and Dunstable, adding to the already overcrowded population. A rumour in Luton on Monday that the Plait Hall and Corn Exchange had been made use of for their accommodation was without foundation, but all yesterday strangers were wandering about in search of lodgings and their number was so largely augmented from the afternoon and evening trains that last night [October 2nd, 1917] Councillor R. F. Briggs brought the matter forward at the outset of the Town Council as a matter of urgency.

Luton, he said, was absolutely full and overcrowded, and as he saw from 50 to 100 women and children come off the 3 o'clock train, and was given to understand that the 6 o'clock train brought an even larger number, the probability was that a good many of these people would not be able to obtain lodgings.

His idea was that shelter should be offered at the Corn Exchange, and if the Council decided to do anything it should be done at once so that the special constables could be informed before they set out on duty at half-past six, and thus be in a position to advise people who were walking the streets.

The Mayor [Alderman John Staddon] believed that there was something necessary to be done, and done quickly, because all the towns within 30 miles of London were being crammed and crowded with cases of this description. The people, he said, were being misled by house agents and were stampeding out of London haphazard in the hopes of finding lodgings.

A few were stated to have slept in the open in Luton the previous night. Councillor Dillingham knew of some who slept on the seats on the Moor, and Councillor J. Unwin cited a case of women and children who slept in the Park - and the general view favoured as a tentative arrangement was the throwing open of the Corn Exchange, which Councillor Dillingham said was available.

It was urged, however, that this should be a purely temporary arrangement, and that use should be made of empty houses and warehouses, of which Councillor Warren said there were quite half a dozen in Guildford Street.

Councillor Unwin also urged the utilisation of church and chapel buildings, and this was commended by Alderman Oakley and the Mayor as a very useful suggestion, it being pointed out that there were schoolrooms which were warmed and more comfortable than the Corn Exchange.

Doubt was expressed as to the advisability of letting the visitors know too early in the evening on the ground that it would be the means of causing them to cease trying for lodgings, and Councillor Impey favoured keeping the whole matter from the Press for fear that the knowledge that provision was being made would bring hundreds more down.

These and a lot of other points were thrashed out, including questions of sanitary arrangements and feeding, and eventually it was agreed to leave the whole matter to a committee to meet at the close of the Council in consultation with Inspector Hagley (in the temporary absence of the Chief Constable), the Chief Constable of the special constabulary and other officials.

The committee was constituted of the Mayor, Alderman Oakley, and Councillors Dillingham, Warren, Impey, Briggs and Chapman.

Before the Council rose the Town Clerk announced that a report had been received from Mr Marks, Chief Constable of the Specials, that the Corn Exchange would not be sufficiently large to accommodate the number of people in the streets waiting to get accommodation, and Councillor W. A. Rainbow, as one of the trustees of the Chapel Street Wesleyan Church, took it upon himself to offer the use of the schoolroom of the church.

[The Luton Reporter: Wednesday, October 3rd, 1917]