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34
Atmospheric Pollution.
Clean Air Act, 1956.
Smoke Control Areas.
By the end of 1963, 1,422 applications for approval of proposed
works of adaptation or conversion of fireplaces, and of payment of grant,
in the No. 3 Smoke Control Area had been approved, and over £18,800
had been paid in grants by the Council in respect of these cases. The
applications related to 3,141 fireplaces.
The Battersea No. 3 Smoke Control Order, which became operative
on the 1st July, 1963, was varied by the No. 3 Smoke Control (Variation)
Order, 1963, which exempted two fish curing premises in the Area
from the requirements of Section 11 of the Clean Air Act, 1956.
The proposed No. 4 Area extends that part of the Borough covered
by the Nos. 1, 2 and 3 Smoke Control Orders to Lavender Hill and
St. John's Hill on the north, to the railway lines to the west and the
Borough boundary on the east. (See map on next page). This Area
covers 144 acres and contains 4,593 dwellings; the survey of the Area
continued throughout the year, but it was not possible to declare the
Area before the end of 1963.
During the year 4,038 visits were made in connection with inspections
of completed work in No. 3 Area and the survey of the proposed
No. 4. Area.
Smoke, etc., Nuisances and Observations.
During the year, 25 complaints were made alleging nuisances from
smoke, dust, grit, etc., emitted from the premises in various parts of the
Borough. All these complaints received careful and sometimes
prolonged investigation.
In addition to dealing with specific complaints, observations are
kept upon the chimneys of any industrial plant which merits observations,
and the appropriate action taken. A total number of 263
observations were made. One notice was served.
The effluvia nuisance, to which reference has been made in previous
Annual Reports, which appears to emanate from the manufacturing
processes of one firm, was the subject of several reports to the Health
Committee during the year.
The assistance of Dr. Hockin, the Alkali Inspector of the Ministry
of Housing and Local Government, was obtained and he reported on
the measures which the firm in question were taking to eliminate, as
far as practicable, the cause of the emissions. It was upon this report
that the Committee came to the conclusion that no further action could
be usefully taken at the present time, but that the matter should be kept
under continual surveillance.