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32
additional smoke inspector and by following a more carefully planned
and more consistent and economical order of progression it will prove
possible to secure the orders affecting Areas 6, 7 and 8 in 1964, and
the final four in 1965.
The decision that a defined part of the Borough shall become
smokeless is taken by the Council. The Control Order, however, is
subject to confirmation by the Minister of Housing and Local Government
and it is he who sets the date on which the order shall become
operative. This is the date after which the emission of smoke constitutes
an offence and the time lapse between confirmation and actual
enforcement is never less than six months. It is during this six
months that all the necessary replacements and alterations to fireplaces
are supposed to be effected.
It is now clear that the No. 3 Order was under publicized and
that knowledge of it was slow in gaining ground. In consequence,
requests for advice on heating arrangements and applications for
grants started slowly and continued late. In contrast a very determined
effort was made to notify householders in Area No. 4 and a
considerable number of queries and applications were received as
soon as the Minister's confirmation was made known. As a result,
the staff found themselves directly involved in implementing both of
these Control Orders at the same time and I know they were hard
pressed during the summer months. It is to their credit that this
unexpected "bulge" was dealt with effectively and with very few cases
of delay and that at the same time they completed the survey for
Area No. 5, which has subsequently been confirmed for operation on
1st October, 1963.
It might have been thought that any doubts as to whether or not
this work with all its frustrations was worth while would have been
resolved by the great fog which enveloped London for over three days
in the first week of December, but because smoke control as now
practised does not deal specifically with sulphur compounds, much
publicity was given to the view that clearing the air of smoke is a
waste of time, effort and money. The elimination of sulphur pollution
from the air we breathe is clearly to be desired but inasmuch as a
winter fog in London is water vapour containing quantities of black
filth plus some sulphur based irritants, most people will consider
that elimination of the black filth is in itself worth some effort.