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Clean Air Acts, 1956 and 1968
Smoke Control Areas
Hammersmith completed its phased Smoke Control Programme on the 1st June,
1967, having achieved the distinction of being the first London Borough
to do so. The programme covered 3,995 acres involving 72,593 premises,
and costs in the region of £360,000. With an estimated population of
200,000, this worked out at approximately £1.80p per capita, an extremely
small price to pay for such obvious benefits to personal and environmental
health.
Supplies of Smokeless Fuels
There was no shortage of solid smokeless fuels, and coupled with the comparatively
mild winter and the trend away from solid fuel, no undue hardships
were experienced.
The Council has a small reserve (20 tons) of an approved smokeless fuel
which is pre-packed in 14 lb. polythene bags and is kept primarily for
elderly persons whose sole means of heating is solid fuel, should a fuel
emergency arise as in 1969.
Emission of Smoke and Sulphur Dioxide
Four recording stations for the measurement of smoke and sulphur dioxide
are situated in the North, Centre and South of the Borough. Records show
that the trend towards the reduction of pollution is being maintained.
Smoke and grit have been reduced to l/5th of the pre-1956 level and sulphur
dioxide is down by l/3rd, and with the trend continuing away from solid
fuel and even oil to gas, the prospects for 1972 look even brighter.
Non-Domestic premises still occasionally give rise to smoke emissions but
this is usually due to bad operation and informal action suffices to minimise
these emissions promptly.
Fulham Hospital
The redevelopment, of the new Charing Cross Hospital at Fulham has brought
about a great improvement in that area, but the obsolescent hospital incinerator
stillgives rise to a nuisance from time to time. However, new
incinerators are being installed to discharge within the new stack serving
the modern boiler house, and it is hoped that the old plant will cease to
function in 1972.
Fulham Power Station
The change over from coal to oil firing continued in 1971 and No.2. Boiler
house was fully converted. Work commenced on No.l Boiler house and it is
hoped to complete all the conversions to the remaining boilers by 1972.
The use of oil, together with the low sulphur content of the fuel, should
help considerably to minimise the smoke and sulphur dioxide emissions in
that area and remove entirely the grit and dust nuisance of former years.
Chimney Heights - Section 6 - Clean Air Act, 1968
Under Section 6 the Council are empowered to approve the chimney height
of the following furnaces with effect from 1st April, 1969:
B.22