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15
and without the encouragement, the co-operation, and the instructions
of the Central Government. These are our suggestions:—
(a) Domestic
(i) Nuisance from domestic smoke can be overcome by the eventual
abolition of the open fire burning soft coal.
(ii) The design of more efficient appliances is important and smokeless
fuels such as anthracite, coke, coalite and oil should be employed where
possible. These, however, must be made available to the public at prices
which people can afford to pay.
(iii) Subject to (ii) consideration should be given to the possibility of
requiring that all new dwellings should be fitted either with smokeless
fuel grates or be heated centrally or by electricity or gas.
(iv) The possibilities of district heating should be explored. In
Westminster, blocks of flats are being heated by hot water from the
Battersea Power Station on the other side of the River Thames, and it
may be possible that Greenwich and Deptford Power Stations could be
utilised in this manner for providing district heating in the Deptford and
Greenwich areas.
(b) Industrial
(i) We have referred earlier in this report (paragraph 2) to the causes
of smoke emission from factories, and the lines along which improvements
can be effected are self-evident.
(ii) Conditions in Deptford do not, in our opinion, justify the employment
of a full-time smoke inspector, but in areas where there is heavy
industry the employment of full-time officers trained as Combustion
experts would clearly be advantageous. In this way a close and almost
continuous watch could be kept on industrial smoke, and technical
advice given where necessary.
(iii) More firms should be encouraged or required to allow their stokers
and firemen to undergo instruction on correct firing methods and boilerhouse
management.
(iv) Smoke abatement law in regard to industry should be made more
rigid. Precise standards should be laid down and those heavy industries
which at present can claim total exemption should be brought within the
scope of the law and therefore within local control.
(c) General
Smokeless zones within which it is an offence for industrial or domestic
chimneys to emit smoke have been created in some large industrial cities,
and we are of the opinion that consideration should be given to the
establishment of a similar zone or zones in London.
Rodent Control
One Rodent Supervisor and two Operators were employed throughout
the year under the general direction of the Chief Sanitary Inspector,
and the following tables summarise the work carried out: —