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16
Clean Air
Daily measurements of smoke and sulphur dioxide are taken at the following stations:—
Anson House, Churchill Gardens, S.W.1.
Monck Street Depot, S.W.1.
London College of Fashion, Holies Street, W.1.
St. Marylebone Town Hall Extension, W.1.
Rutherford School, Penfold Street, N.W.8.
"Newstead", Greville Place, N.W.6.
Paddington District Office, 313, Harrow Road, W.9.
'Smoke' for this purpose includes all particles of about 10 micron (1/2500 in) diameter or less.
These are too small to settle by gravity and remain suspended in the air and can therefore be
measured simultaneously with the sulphur dioxide by the same apparatus.
Larger particles which do fall under their own weight are collected and measured by means of
standard deposit gauges placed at:—
Bessborough Street Day Nursery, S.W.1.
Farm Street Depot, W.1.
Winchelsea House, St. Johns Wood Road, N.W.8.
M. & C. W. Centre, 283a Harrow Road, W.9.
In addition to providing useful local information on the level of air pollution, returns from all these
stations are forwarded each month to the Warren Spring Laboratory of the Ministry of Technology
as the Council's contribution to the National Survey of Air Pollution.
By arrangement with the Air Pollution Division of the Medical Research Council two sequential
fog samplers are installed, one at Anson House and one at St. Marylebone Town Hall Extension.
These machines measure the smoke content of smog more accurately and at shorter intervals
than the 'daily' apparatus referred to above. Whenever fog forms the machines are operated until
it clears, and the results obtained are available on request to the Medical Research Council and also
of course to Warren Spring Laboratory.
The City Council's smoke control areas programme continues to be implemented and it is gratifying
to record that the amount of smoke in the City's atmosphere is now less than half what it was when
this programme was embarked upon. One Smoke Control Order came into operation during the
year—Paddington (Harrow Road South)—and the Council made a further Order, the Westminster
(Readings) Smoke Control Order which was submitted to, and confirmed by, the Minister of Housing
and Local Government. Survey of the Queens Park area has been completed but the making of the
Order deferred, pending more information on the probable life left to properties in the proposed
Herries Street slum clearance area. This information is essential as, if properties are due for demolition
within two or three years, the Council may decide to exempt them from smoke control.
All undue emissions of smoke observed, or reported to the Department, are investigated and
appropriate action taken. There are many oilfired boilers of all sizes used throughout the City
to provide heating to offices, flats and shops and in addition to the usual smoke problems, they
also give rise to complaints of smuts and odours. Unlike visible smoke, the sources of smells and
odours are more difficult to trace, but nevertheless considerable success is achieved in remedying
this kind of nuisance. During the year the Smoke Control Officer made 289 visits in connection
with complaints, 398 Smoke observations and 1,041 routine visits.
New boiler installations notified to the Council under Section 3 of the Clean Air Act, 1956 are
investigated to ensure that (a) they are capable of operating smokelessly and (b) the flue gases are
discharged so as not to inconvenience persons working and living nearby. During 1966 a total of
93 such notifications were received. It is a matter for regret that Section 10 of the Act, which relates
to the height of new chimneys, does not apply to London. This means that the Health Department,
to whom subsequent complaints of smoke nuisance may be made, has no jurisdiction over the
height and position of a new chimney. However, some persons making the statutory notification,
voluntarily enclose plans and specifications and ask for the Council's approval of the proposed
installation. This practice is to be welcomed for, in addition to providing the applicant with an
assurance that the plant can be operated without contravening the Clean Air Act, it enables the
Health Department to consider the chimney height together with any other relevant factors necessary
if the installation is to operate smokelessly and without nuisance to persons nearby. Of the 93
notifications mentioned above, 33 included application for the Council's approval of the new boilers.
Radioactive Substances Act, 1960
Persons who keep or use radioactive materials are, unless exempted, required to register with the
Ministry of Housing and Local Government and obtain authorization for the accumulation and
disposal of radioactive waste.