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RECORDING OF ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION
As part of the National Survey three sets of instruments for recording smoke and S02 are
maintained by this department, positioned at
1. Finsbury Health Centre, Pine Street, E.C.1.
3. Treatment Centre, Seven Sisters Road, N.7.
5.* Public Health Department, Upper Street, N. 1.
In addition, the G.L.C. has similar recording instruments maintained at "Hillside",
St. Johns Way, N. 19.
This replaced the one situated in the Town Hall known as No. 2 site and which ceased to
operate in October, 1965.
Since the "smog" of 1952, with its disastrous results as indicated by the increased
death rate for that and the ensuing year, the Government and indeed the public have become
very conscious of the possible effects of atmospheric pollution. The Government in placing
the Clean Air Act, 1956 on the Statute Book provided the Council with effective means to
secure as far as possible the minimum of atmospheric pollution by smoke. The Councils
proceeded vigorously in the implementation of this Act and the first two smoke control
orders became operative in the Metropolitan Borough of Islington in September 1960 and in
Finsbury in June 1962. At the end of next year, it is anticipated that the programme will be
completed and the whole of the London Borough will be subject to smoke control. During the
year, the Clean Air Act 1968 has been issued and will, inter alia, give the Council control
of chimney heights and the acquisition and sale of unauthorised fuels.
The effect of the smoke control programme is shown on the following graphs from which it
will be seen that the levels of smoke pollution as well as the sulphur dioxide content since
1958 has declined steadily. It is hoped that still further improvements will be effected
during the course of time.
Thanks are due to the technical and administrative staff who have been engaged in the
very heavy burden of additional work which has been carried out so satisfactorily. Every
endeavour has been madeto promote and maintain good public relations and the fact that the
programme has run so smoothly and no Public Inquiries have been required is indicative of the
understanding and tact of the officers concerned. The Senior Inspector and the technical staff
under his control have been required to work considerable periods outside normal working hours
particularly in the evenings and weekends. This has enabled applications for grants in regard
to adaptations under the Clean Air Act to be finalised with the minimum of delay.
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