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CLEAN AIR.
Although the Clean Air Act, 1956, came on to the Statute
Book in July it was not until 31st December, 1956, that certain
of its provisions became operative. One of these was Section 11
of the Act which enables local authorities to establish smoke
control areas.
In order to give publicity to the prevention of smoke, a
public meeting was held in the Council Chamber at the Town
Hall on the 31st October, 1956, on the subject of "The Air We
Breathe". This meeting was organised by arrangement with
the Gas Council who provided a lecturer and speakers and the
Mayor kindly presided. Invitations to attend were sent to
the proprietors of a number of local industries and posters were
displayed throughout the Borough advertising the event. The
meeting was fairly well attended and after a most interesting
session of questions and discussion followed by light refreshments,
a film entitled " Guilty Chimneys " was shown.
Early in December a letter was received from the National
Smoke Abatement Society drawing attention to the following
resolution which was passed unanimously at the Society's Annual
Conference and asking to be informed of the Council's views
thereon or any action taken:
"That this Conference of the National Smoke Abatement
Society welcomes the Clean Air Act and reaffirms its determination
vigorously to pursue its policy of securing clean air. It
urges:
(1) That since the effective implementation of the provisions
of the Act largely depends on an informed public opinion,
all local authorities should without delay, initiate a well
directed plan of publicity and education.
(2) That local authorities should now take immediate action
in order to be prepared to administer and implement the
Clean Air Act.
(3) That the Minister of Health and the Local Authorities
should take all necessary steps to augment the Public
Health Inspectorate so that the provisions of the Act
may be effectively implemented.
(4) That H.M. Government should take all necessary steps
to make generally available supplies of smokeless fuels
at prices which will favour their use."
At the request of the Public Health Committee a report
on this Resolution was submitted.