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residents to appreciate that expenditure on works of conversion
had to be incurred before the appointed day (of
which they were given nearly twelve months notice) in
order to qualify for grant. Many applications for approval
were received on and after the appointed day and were
therefore invalid. In most of these cases, notices were
served requiring the carrying out of adaptations reasonably
necessary to avoid contravention of Section 11 of
the Act, but it had to be pointed out that these works
only would qualify for grant and that if any different or
more extensive works were executed the whole of the cost
would have to be borne by the owner or occupier. It is to
be hoped that in all future smoke control areas owners and
occupiers of premises will take advantage of the minimum
period of six months allowed between the date of confirmation
of the Order and the date it becomes operative, in
which to carry out any necessary adaptations or conversion
works.
Means of Ignition
The question of compulsory provision of gas ignition
to approved heating appliances in smoke control areas has
been under consideration for some time and in July 1960
the Ministry of Housing and Local Government issued a
circular to give guidance to local authorities on this
matter.
It seems that at present gas is the most convenient
smokeless method of igniting solid smokeless fuel, but
there are houses which have no supply of town gas and
which cannot be provided with it at reasonable cost. Some
people, too, may object to having gas in their homes at
all, and it is felt that it would be unreasonable to
insist that they should. In such cases, it is likely that
paper and kindling wood will be commonly used and in the
Minister's view the small amount of smoke thus caused
must be accepted in the general interest of progress in
the creation of smoke control areas. The Minister has,
however, recently authorised that approved methods of
electrical ignition should rank for grant.
New Furnaces
Three applications were received during the year for
prior approval to the installation of new furnaces under
the provisions of Section 3 of the Clean Air Act, 1956.
The plans and specifications were of furnaces which were
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