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Kensington. It provides a rapid means of intensive heat at a price lower than
either gas or electricity; there is no work or expense involved in
installation; comparable heating from an efficient oil heater is obtained at
approximately half the cost of an electric fire. Second-hand heaters can be
bought very cheaply and the fuel which is used, namely, paraffin, is readily
available and is usually delivered direct to the home by the distributors.
The fuel is available in small quantities and, if necessary, a supply can
easily be purchased each day; thus, for the cost of one gallon of fuel at
2/3d., a room can be heated effectively for, say, sixteen hours per day.
There is a further point that no difficulties in connection with gas and
electricity meters are encountered.
There are grave risks of fire from oil heaters, particularly those
manufactured before June, 1962. The fuel itself is highly inflammable and
can be stored in circumstances giving rise to danger. The filling, if
undertaken whilst the heater is alight, can also cause accidents. Even the
modified heaters which have been manufactured since 1st June, 1962, can be
knocked over and can also cause a fire if moved whilst alight.
Since 1954, the Council have arranged, or participated in, a number
of campaigns emphasising the need for home safety precautions, particularly
when dealing with oil heaters. Various types of posters relating to oil
heater safety have been obtained and have been displayed on posterboards
about the borough; and leaflets have been made available to the public at the
public libraries and to those calling at the Public Health Department.
ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION
Smoke Control Areas. Section 11 to 15 of the Clean Air Act, 1956, relate
to the functions of the Council to declare smoke control areas, in which the
emission of smoke from the chimney of any building (not exempted under the
Order) would be an offence.
The procedure for establishing a smoke control area has been
prescribed by the Minister of Housing and Local Government, who has stated
that now considerable experience has been gained, there is no longer a need
for provisional proposals to be submitted.
In order to take full account of the local supply situation in
preparing future Smoke Control Orders, the Council must consult
representatives of the producers and distributors to determine the
availability of the various fuels. The results of these consultations must
be reported to the Minister when the Order is submitted for confirmation.
The Housing Act, 1964 (Section 95) amended the Clean Air Act, 1956,
to provide
(i) that grant be payable towards the conversion of open
grates in dwellings constructed or produced by conversion
between 1956 and 1964 which previously had been excluded
from grant. Most of these had been fitted with open
grates capable of burning smokeless fuel;
(ii) a wider discretion as to the expenditure to be taken into
account for grant purposes and to provide that grant may
be withheld for appliances which would strain available
fuel resources;
(iii) for grant to be allowed on the provision of ignition
even if no other works are involved;
(iv) for local authorities to be empowered to pay grant
retrospectively where expenditure is incurred without
their approval, between the date of confirmation and
date of operation of the Order.