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Premises Act, 1963, will greatly strengthen the Inspectors' powers
to require much improved amenities not only at shop premises, but
in offices which have very largely escaped welfare legislation in the
past.
The new Act will lay down minimum space needed for workers,
together with more specific requirements for heating, safety, etc.
All offices and shops will need to be registered and the task of
dealing with over 1,000 premises will place a considerable
additional burden on the Inspectors.
No Closing Orders (citing the early closing day) are in operation
in the district. Thus, subject to certain conditions, the half
day is that selected by the proprietor. In fact the great majority
of shops by custom close as follow:—
Wednesday—St. Paul's Cray L.C.C. Estate (except Leith Hill),
Chislehurst,
The Oval, Lamorbey.
Thursday—Sidcup (other than above),
North Cray,
Mottingham.
The Council again decided to suspend the general closing
hours for the period immediately preceding Christmas, but little
advantage appears to have been taken of this concession.
Visits and observations in connection with the Act totalled
393, and the following infringements have been dealt with.
Offences remedied
Notices and records 3
Sunday trading 3
Hours of work 2
Temperature 2
CLEAN AIR ACT, 1956.
Pollution generally can be divided into two categories—firstly,
that caused by industrial smoke and grit, and secondly, that
emanating from the domestic chimney.
Industrial Pollution
Little industrial smoke is produced in this District, although
pollution doubtlessly results from factory chimneys in adjacent and
more distant areas in periods conducive to the formation of fog.
The "industrial" provisions of the Clean Air Act, at least, in so far
as they relate to those processes not covered by the Alkali, etc.,
Works Act have been most effective. The older works have been
greatly improved and before any new furnace plant can be installed,
notification must be given to the Department and approval sought
as to the height of chimneys.
Less satisfactory is the position with regard to flue dust
emanating from the concentration of cement works situated on the
Thames and Medway Estuaries. To deal with this problem the