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31
Section 3 of the Clean Air Act requires a person proposing to
instal industrial and other large furnaces to give notice of intention
to the local authority. One such notice was received during the year.
The Section also provides for the optional submission of plans and
specifications of such furnaces whereby prior approval may be given by
the local authority.
Section 11 of the Act enables local authorities to establish
''smoke control areas" by means of Orders confirmed by the Minister.
When a smoke control area has been established the emission of smoke
from any chimney becomes an offence subject to any exemptions made
and a defence that it was not caused by the use of any other fuel than
the recognized smokeless fuels.
In any proposed area it is necessary to convert unsuitable fireplaces
and furnaces to a type capable of burning the smokeless fuels.
Responsibility for conversion would appear to fall normally on the
owner and may be enforced by the Council but in the case of private
dwellings the owner is entitled to a 70% grant towards the cost from
the local authority who can recover 40% of the total cost from the
government.
Early in the year careful consideration was given to the possibility
of establishing a smoke control area and discussions took place
with other central London boroughs with a view to concerted action.
It was suggested that an area of approx. 66 acres abutting on the
City Smokeless Zone and extending northwards to Old Street should
form the first Pinsbury area This is a mixed area containing residential dwellings including Council property, as well as commercial
and industrial premises. A large number of post-war buildings
including flats have been erected in the area The latter have been
provided with modern grates suitable for burning authorised fuels
whilst a high proportion of the new commercial and industrial buildings
have oil fired furnaces and are therefore generally exempt from the
provisions of the Clean Air Act relating to Smoke Control Areas.