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(ii) Delivery of coal in smoke control areas
(iii) Advice on oil-burning appliances
2, Memorandum on chimney heights and Circular 25/63 relating thereto,
3, The Smoke Control Areas (Authorised Fuels) Regulations, 1963 by virtue of which
fluidised char binderless briquettes manufactured by the National Coal Board were
declared to be authorised fuel for the purposes of the Clean Air Act, 1956, This fuel
is retailed under the name of "Homefire", Circular 54/63 was also issued by the
Ministry and related to the issue of the above order,
4, Circular 69/63 was issued by the Ministry and referred to the publication by the
Minister of Power of a White Paper entitled "Domestic Fuel Supplies and the Clean Air
Policy", The Government's intention to encourage and take vigorous action against
urban smoke pollution remains Due, however, to the technological changes in the gas
industry there will be little further increase in the future production of gas coke
and some re-shaping of current arrangements has become necessary, It is anticipated
that there will be sufficient coke manufactured to meet the requirements of existing
smdce control areas but the production of gas coke is already beginning to decline It
follows, therefore, that open grate gas coke can no longer be regarded as the main
replacement for raw coal in future smoke controlled areas The Minister recognises that
the initial effect of the changed fuel position may be to make it more difficult for
Local Authorities to establish further smoke control areas From now on a greater change
in householders' heating arrangements will often be necessary, and greater efforts may
well have to be made to persuade householders of the need for the change Householders
will still have a wide choice of appliances and fuels: for most people the cost of fuel
need be little, if at all greater: and more money will often be payable to the householder
by way of grant and heating standards will be improved It is considered that
there will continue to be a sufficient supply of hard coke, In view of this, the
Minister considers that the installations of openable stoves, under-floor draught open
fires or fixed gas, electric storage or oil heaters should now be regarded as
"reasonably necessary" works and that the full expenditure on such installations
subject to certain conditions - should rank for grant.
During the year-four Smoke Control Orders came into operation and two were
confirmed by the Minister which will not become operative until next year.
The size of the areas being surveyed are now approximately 100 acres compared with
the original area of approximately 25/50 acres The increase in size results in a
comparable increase in the amount of work involved The number of premises surveyed and
the number of adaptations carried out with all the relevant approval of the claims
submitted and checking to ensure that the work has been done satisfactorily, has caused
considerable increase in work both in regard to the Inspectors as well as the clerical
staff.
The difficulty of the availability of smokeless fuel is continually being met with,
The sale of pre-packed smokeless fuel by retailers such as greengrocers, ironmongers and
hardware stores etc, is increasing, This method is not economical as far as the
purchaser is concerned, the comparative cost being often increased by more than 50%, This
is regarded as unsatisfactory to Old Age Pensioners who often purchase their fuel in this
manner and can ill afford the extra cost.