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42
Atmospheric Pollution
Clean Air Act 1956
The Minister of Housing and Local Government issued Circular No 3/62 in which he
indicated that the estimated and final costs of adapting and replacing fire places in
privately owned dwellings would not be normally required to be submitted in the detail
hitherto required in future. The Minister's revised simplified form has greatly reduced
the clerical work on costings of Smoke Control Areas.
In Circular 50/62 the Minister referred to the current requirements for storage of
solid fuel in Local Authority Housing. He drew attention to representations which had
been received on the difficulties which a strict adherence to these minimum fuel storage
requirements might create in Smoke Control Areas because of the greater bulk per ton of
coke and other smokeless fuels. With restricted storage, householders may have difficulty
in stocking adequate supplies of the fuels they must use. and cannot take full advantage
of cheaper deliveries in summer. The Minister is satisfied that the standards now enforced
represent a reasonable minimum of fuel storage for most areas, and that there is no case
for requiring a higher standard everywhere. He therefore asks authorities when considering
the plans of new dwellings in areas covered or likely to be covered by Smoke Control
Orders, to give particular attention to this point and to satisfy themselves that the fuel
storage facilities are adequate for the type of fuel that may have to be used
The Minister in Circular 60/62 drew attention to the programmes submitted by Local
Authorities for the black areas (which includes London) and urged that the present programme
be completed on time.
During the year six Smoke Control Orders came into operation and two were confirmed by
the Minister which will not become operative until next year The operation of Snoke Control
Orders is proceeding smoothly and it became possible during the year to enlarge the Kings
Cross area No. 1 from 39 8 acreas to 104 acres and it is anticipated that the whole of the
Borough will be a Smokeless area by 1970.
A map of the Borough showing the programme appears on Page 43 The Council authorised
the attendance of one of the Public Health Inspectors engaged on Smoke Control areas at a
three-day course held by the Coal Utilization Council. This course is arranged in order that
those concerned may be fully acquainted with approved appliances and the correct method of
fixing same in order to comply with the statutory requirements
Several complaints were received by the Department arising from the burning of rubbish
in gardens and on vacant land. These complaints are generally resolved upon a visit being
paid by the Inspector Certain complaints, however, concerned the burning of industrial
waste in factory yards, the burning of motor car bodies and the burning of old timber by
demolition contractors. A serious nuisance was caused during the demolition of a large
cinema but in all these cases the Inspector took appropriate action and secured abatement
of the nuisances concerned
The Ministry of Transport by regulations issued during the year made the misuse of the
excess fuel device by the driver of a diesel engined vehicle an offence. All new vehicles
must have the control device so placed that it cannot be operated by the driver when the
vehicle is in motion
One factory situated in a Smoke Control area emitted smoke from a combustion stove
during December and Legal Proceedings were pending at the end of the year.