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Undoubtedly, the winter of 1958 will be remembered by the
surviving patients, and relatives of many, on account of the suffering
and deaths that occurred. From 27th October until Christmas
there were no less than 26 days on which fog occurred. Traffic was
frequently disorganised. The Emergency Bed Service was hard put
to it on many occasions to find beds for the most deserving cases.
Already Bermondsey has taken active steps to combat this
menace to the inhabitants of towns. One smokeless zone has been
declared, another has had the preliminary approval of the Minister
and further extensive areas are being investigated with a view to
extending the clean areas of the Borough.
It has been noted that another London Borough has been
pressing the Minister to make grants available to everyone who
voluntarily incurs expense in altering grates and fireplaces whether
or not they live in a smoke control area. Every effort should be
made to encourage people to become clean air conscious.
Investigation into the extent of atmospheric pollution has been
continued during the year in co-operation with the Department of
Scientific and Industrial Research and the tables hereunder show
the concentration of smoke and sulphur-dioxide, as recorded at the
Municipal Offices, and the amount of deposited matter recorded by
the deposit gauges at Brunel Road, Rotherhithe, and the Public
Health Centre, Grange Road.