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to make grants at their discretion, towards the cost of necessary
adaptations in churches, chapels and charitable institutions but
which attract no Exchequer contributions. One such application
was received in respect of the Hall of the Congregational Church
in Rectory Place, S.E.18., and the installation of a gas fire was
approved.
The Council, in respect of 28 late applications, authorised the
service of statutory notices under Section 12(2) of the Clean Air
Act, 1956.
Installations
Section 3 of the Clean Air Act requires that new furnaces not
used mainly for domestic purposes and exceeding a capacity of
55.000 B.T.U.s shall, as far as practicable, be smokeless. Any person
installing such a furnace must give prior notice to the Council
and may submit detailed plans and specifications for the Council's
approval before the works of installation commence. Thirty-two
notifications were received and five approvals were given in 1971.
Section 3(1) of the Clean Air Act, 1968 requires that no furnace
shall be used in a building,
(a) to burn pulverised fuel; or
(b) to burn at a rate of 100 pounds or more an hour, any other
solid matter; or
(c) to burn, at a rate equivalent to 1¼ million or more British
thermal units an hour, any liquid or gaseous matter,
unless the furnace is provided with plant for arresting grit and
dust approved by the local authority or which has been installed
in accordance with plans and specifications submitted to and
approved by the local authority and that such plant is properly
maintained and used. Where a local authority determine an
application for approval under this Section, they shall give the
applicant a written notification of their decision and, in the case
of a decision not to grant approval, shall state their reasons for
not so doing. Two such applications were submitted and one
approval was given. The other application was not approved by
reason of the fact that the process was under the control of the
Alkali Inspector.
Chimney Heights
Under Section 6 of the Clean Air Act, 1968, 11 applications
were received and chimney heights approved in 10 instances
during 1971.