London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Kensington 1960

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]

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by the borough boundary, on the south by the middle of Notting Hill
Gate and Holland Park Avenue, and on the west by the middle of Ladbroke
Grove. The survey of this area showed that the total cost of
adaptations will be about £9,272. Os. Od., of which, after deducting
Exchequer grant, the owners (or occupiers) and the Council will each
be liable for £2,782. Os. Od. The Council recommended that the Order
for this area should operate from 1st October, 1961, and the Minister
gave his approval on 22nd November, 1960.
Further, on 26th July, 1960 the Council submitted for
approval, to the Minister of Housing and Local Government, a proposal
that the remainder of the Pembridge Ward should be made the subject
of a Smoke Control Order. This part of the Ward is bounded on the
north by the middle of Lancaster Road, on the east by the borough
boundary, on the south by the middle of Westbourne Grove and Ladbroke
Gardens, and on the west by the middle of Ladbroke Grove. It has an
area of about 83 acres, and it was estimated that the total cost of
adaptations will be about £22,500. 0s. 0d. The Minister subsequently
gave his provisional approval to this proposal.
Circular No.28/60 was issued by the Ministry of Housing and
Local Government giving guidance to local authorities on the question
of the use of sticks and paper for lighting fires in smoke control
areas. The Circular stated that where no supply of town gas is
available, it is likely that occupiers of houses will require to use
sticks and paper for lighting fires. The Circular stated that legal
cover for this could best be given by the use in smoke control orders
of the power of exemption provided in the Act.
The Minister asked local authorities to consider giving
exemptions in general terms to fireplaces in any building in a smoke
control area which is not supplied with town gas and the Council
decided, on 11th October, 1960 to comply with the Minister's request
when recommending future smoke control orders.
New furnaces. Section 3 requires that new furnaces, not
used mainly for domestic purposes and exceeding a specified capacity,
shall be so far as is practicable smokeless. Any person installing
such a furnace must give prior notice to the Council and may submit
detailed plans and specifications for approval before the work of
installation takes place.
During 1960, 16 notifications were received, and 2 appli¬cations
for approval of plans, etc., were approved.
In one instance it was reported that a new furnace had been
installed in a building without proper notice being given to the
Council, and the Public Health Committee decided to issue a warning
in this case.
Smoke emissions. The Sections of the Clean Air Act, 1956
which relate to industrial smoke came into force on 1st June, 1958.
Up to that date emissions of industrial smoke were dealt with under
the provisions of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936.
The provisions mainly affecting the Council are contained
in Section 1, which prohibits the emission of dark smoke (except for
certain periods laid down by regulation) and Section 16 which deals
with smoke nuisances.
During the year 21 complaints of smoke nuisance were
received and 32 formal smoke observations were carried out. In
one case an offence against Section 1 of the Clean Air Act, 1956
was observed; an intimation notice was served, and the Public
Health Committee issued a warning to the occupier. Remedial
measures in all cases were secured without further proceedings.