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Very foggy conditions were experienced on 3rd, 4th and 5th
December 1957 and it was noted that the concentration of sulphur
dioxide which, in the first two days of the month had been 10 parts
per 100 million, had risen to 49 parts per 100 million on the 3rd.
On the 4th and 5th it was decided to take more frequent readings
and these are recorded in the table below.
SO2
Date Time p.p. 100 m.
4 Dec. 9.15 73.94
11.15 84.36
1.10 37.96
3.40 63.28
5 Dec. 8.55 72.32
1.30 46.52
4.00 94.92
Not only is smog detrimental to health but the active constituents
corrode metals and building materials, and damage is caused to
paintwork, soil and crops.
Public Health Committee, 2nd July, 1957
Clean Air Act—1956, Section 11—Smoke Control Areas
At their meeting on 5th March 1957, the Committee had before
them the report and recommendations of the General Purposes
Sub-Committee of the Metropolitan Boroughs Standing Joint
Committee, relevant extracts from which are quoted hereunder:
"We have given consideration to the advice that should be given
to the constituent Councils upon the adoption of a common
policy for the establishment of smoke control areas, with the
ultimate object that the whole of the County of London should
be a smokeless zone in the course of time. It would appear
that the most effective way of achieving this object would be to
commence with a central smokeless zone to be extended as
quickly as possible until the boundaries of the County are
reached. Under Private Act of Parliament, the City of London
has already been declared a smokeless zone, around which it
would be possible to create further smoke control areas which
themselves would gradually expand. Immediate consideration
should, therefore, be given to the creation of smoke control
areas in the boroughs with common boundaries with the City
of London, viz., Finsbury, Holborn, Shoreditch, Stepney and
Westminster (north of the River Thames), and Bermondsey
and Southwark (south of the River). To that end, we consider
that the Borough Councils concerned should confer together
as soon as possible and produce a co-ordinated scheme. Whilst
the Committee are the appropriate body for co-ordinating the
establishment of smoke control areas in London, we do not