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The Clean Air Act, 1956, is mainly concerned with the implementation
of recommendations made by the Beaver Committee on Air Pollutions, and
makes provisions under the following headings:-
INDUSTRIAL
(a) Prohibiting the emission of dark smoke from any chimney
for periods longer than those to be specified in Regulations
which will be duly operative;
(b) Adoption of precautionary measures in the lighting-up of
furnaces;
(c) Maintenance of prearranged measures to combat creation
of nuisances due to plant failure and/or non-availability
of recommended fuel;
(d) Emitting of dust and grit from furnaces to be minimised by
the provision of dust and grit arrestors For this purpose
a local authority is empowered to call for the installation
of measuring and recording apparatus
(e) Abatement of nuisances - Notice of nuisances must be given
to responsible persons forthwith and confirmed in writing within
forty-eight hours; and
(f) New industrial buildings - Chimney heights must be adequate to
prevent nuisances from smoke, grit, dust, or gases.
DOMESTIC
(i) With the consent of the Minister of Housing and Local
Government, a local authority may establish Smoke Control
areas in which the emission of smoke will be completely
prohibited;
(ii) A survey will then be initiated to ascertain the number and
types of premises, existing boilers and fireplaces, types of
fuel consumed, quantity of smokeless fuel required, number of
fireplace adaptations and replacements necessary, and cost
involved]; finally, the estimating of expenditure likely to fall
upon a local authority.
(iii) A scheme based upon findings of (b) above will be submitted
to the Minister of Housing and Local Government for approval,
and when an Order is granted, householders will be called upon
to carry out fireplace adaptations to prevent future smoke
emissions. A local authority will bear 70% of the cost involved,
(40% of which can be recovered on application to the Exchequer),
and householders will be responsible for 30% of expenditure in
connection with adaptations.