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the functions of the Council to declare smoke control areas, in which the
emission of smoke from the chimney of any building would be an offence.
The procedure for establishing a smoke control area is laid down
by the Minister of Housing and Local Government and comprises four main phases,
as follows:-
(a) Having decided in principle on the location, size, area
and types of property to be included in the area, the
Council must give provisional notice of their proposals
to the Minister.
(b) Upon receipt of the Minister's approval to the
provisional plan, a detailed survey of the area must
be made.
(c) When the survey has been completed, the Council may
make the Order and submit it to the Minister for
confirmation.
(d) After the Minister's confirmation, enforcement action
to bring the Order into operation. This stage
includes the conversion of firegrates, the payment of
grants, and the necessary action to secure Exchequer
contributions.
The first area in Kensington to be specified was the central part
of the Holland Ward, bounded by Kensington High Street in the south, Campden
Hill Road in the north and Abbotsbury Road in the west. The preliminary
proposals were submitted to the Minister in 1958, who gave his approval.
As a result of the preliminary survey, a reliable estimate was
obtained of those premises in the area which were already smokeless and those
which were not. Two circular letters were sent out from the public health
department, one for occupiers of houses believed to be using bituminous coal
and one for occupiers of smokeless houses. In addition to giving prior
notification of a visit to be made by one of the Council's officers, the
letters included a map of the proposed area, details of the grant available,
and a statement of the duties of occupiers in a smoke control area. With
the letters were sent leaflets and brochures designed and produced by
various organisations concerned with smokeless fuels and authorised appliances.
These contained much information relating to the Clean Air Act, 1956, and were
supplied free of charge by the following organisations:-
Coal Utilisation Council
Gas Council
London Electricity Board
North Thames Gas Board
Radiation Ltd.
Solid Smokeless Fuels Federation
The detailed survey was completed and on 11th November, 1958, the
Council made an Order declaring the area to be a Smoke Control Area. No
objections were made in this case and the Minister confirmed the Order
which came into operation on 1st October, 1959•
On 11th November, 1958, the Council decided to proceed with the
remainder of the Holland Ward in two areas, viz. Holland Ward (No.2) Area
and Holland Ward (No.3) Area. The Minister approved the proposal in each case
and the detailed surveys were completed during the year.
On 13th October, 1959, the Council declared both these areas to
be Smoke Control Areas and submitted the Ordeisto the Minister for
confirmation. The following table gives a summary of the details of the
three Holland Ward areas:-
On 13th October, 1959, the Council declared both these areas to
be Smoke Control Areas and submitted the Orders to the Minister for
confirmation. The following table gives a summary of the details of the
three Holland Ward areas:-