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33
Atmospheric Pollution.
Clean Air Act, 1956.
Smoke Control Areas.
By the end of 1964, 1,431 applications for approval of proposed
works of adaptation or conversion of fireplaces, and payment of grant,
in the No. 3 Smoke Control Area had been approved, and over £25,400
had been paid in grants by the Council in respect of these cases. The
applications related to 2,168 fireplaces.
No. 4 Area extends that part of the Borough covered by 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 of the Borough boundary on
the east. (See map on the next page). This Area covers 144 acres and
contains 4,593 dwellings; it was declared on the 25th March, 1964, and
was confirmed on the 16th September, 1964. The operative date of the
Order will be the 1st July, 1965
By the end of 1964, 583 applications in connection with grants had
been approved for the No. 4 Area, the grants amounting to over £11,300.
work was completed in 97 cases, £1,512 being paid in grants.
During the year 3,539 visits were made in connection with inspections
and surveys.
Smoke, etc., Nuisances and Observations.
During the year, complaints were received alleging nuisances from
smoke, dust, grit, etc., emitted from 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 observation,
and the appropriate action taken. A total number of 185
observations was made.
Smoke Measuring Station.
The smoke measuring station installed in the Department in 1956
continues to give valuable information concerning smoke density and
sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere. The readings are taken by
members of the staff of the Department, and the Department of
scientific and Industrial Research receive the results and collate the
information with other results obtained from Authorities all over the
country.
Notification of Installation of Furnaces.
Notification is required under Section 3 of the Clean Air Act, 1956,
the installation of any furnace with a heating capacity of 55,000
B.T.U's or more per hour. The Section does not generally apply to
furnaces designed solely or mainly for use for domestic purposes. The
purpose of the Section is to see that any new furnaces installed shall
be, so far as is practicable, capable of being operated without emitting
smoke. Eleven such notifications were received during the year.