View report page

- 21 -
Clean Air
The year 1962 saw the final steps towards the completion of the Councils
policy of covering the whole of Bethnal Green with Smoke Control Orders.
Early in the year the Minister of Housing and Local Government
confirmed Order No.3 and following six months of intensive fireplace conversions,
the Order became operative in November. In the same month two further Smoke
Control Orders covering the remainder of the Borough were made and at the end of
the year were awaiting confirmation by the Minister of Housing and Local Government.
These last two Orders should be operative in November, 1963 and Bethnal Green will
become one of the first Metropolitan Boroughs to complete its Smoke Control programme.
The Council's policy has been to allow occupiers of premises as far as
possible to have a free choice of the type of heating they wish and up to the end of
1962 , grants amounting to £5 ,400 have been paid by the Council towards the cost of
fireplace conversions.
Bethnal Green residents have shown great awareness of the benefit to
health of a pollution-free atmosphere. This has been evidenced by a variety of
enquiries made during the year. These have ranged from the wish of tenants to
make fireplace conversions even before their premises were included in a Smoke
Control Order to the relative merits of different types of heating.
Once complete control of the whole of the Borough is established the
Public Health Department will continue its efforts to make sure no smoke-producing
appliances remain in use.
The number of visits made by Public Health Inspectors in connection
with the application of the Clean Air Act are recorded elsewhere in this report.
A further 1,228 visits were made by other staff in connection with area
surveys and completed conversions.