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authorities. The provisions which come into force deal with the installation of
furnaces, the height of chimneys, smoke control areas, research and publicity, and
the making of building byelaws. The implementation of this Act will considerably
increase the work of this Department.
By virtue of the Smoke Control Areas (Authorised Fuels) Regulations, 1956,
certain fuels were declared to be authorised fuels for the purposes of the Act. These
are :—
anthracite ;
briquetted fuels carbonised in the process of manufacture ;
coke ;
electricity ;
gas ;
low temperature carbonisation fuels ;
low volatile steam coals.
The Standing Conference of Co-operating Bodies for investigating Atmospheric
Pollution met on two occasions during the year.
The Council, being aware of the harmful effects of air pollution and in order
to keep the knowledge and experience of its officers as up-to-date as possible,
approved the attendance of eight Inspectors at a Course on Atmospheric Pollution
held by the Department of Applied Chemistry, Northampton Polytechnic.
The Chief Public Health Inspector also attended the two day Conference on
Domestic Heating of the Institute of Fuel when papers were presented dealing with
fuels, heating methods and appliances, design of dwellings and planning and administration
of smoke control areas.
One of the Inspectors who is engaged on the prevention of atmospheric pollution
was sent to the two day conference sponsored by the Institution of Mechanical
Engineers on the Mechanical Engineers' Contribution to Clean Air. The experience
and information thus gained by the Inspectors are of invaluable assistance to them
in the performance of their duties. Although courses exist which are designed to
educate stokers and others engaged in steam raising plants, the results obtained by
Inspectors giving technical advice on the spot and demonstrating to stokers how the
furnaces operated by them can be stoked efficiently with the fuel supplied, without
causing a nuisance cannot be over-estimated. Such visits and practical demonstrations
are much appreciated by the persons directly concerned, including factory owners.
The number of complaints received and the number of observations necessary were
considerably less than last year.
The Council is also concerned about the possible pollution of the atmosphere by
diesel smoke, and towards the end of the year when diesel-engined lorries passing
through the Borough were seen by the Inspectors to be emitting dense smoke, the
owners were written to informally drawing attention to the fact and seeking their
co-operation in reducing atmospheric pollution from this source. Those concerned
have expressed their regret and willingness to do all possible to keep the nuisance to
a minimum.
In this connection, the Council is concerned that the London Transport Executive
have formulated proposals for a full scale replacement of trolley-buses with diesel
engined buses, beginning in 1958, to spread over a period of four years. Although
representation, supported by the Metropolitan Boroughs Standing Joint Committee,
was made to the Executive asking them to reconsider their decision on the ground of
the possible effect of diesel engine fumes on health, the Executive have issued a
public statement in which they stated that an order has been placed for the purchase
of 850 " Routemaster " diesel-engined buses, delivery of which is to start in 1958.