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40
Smokeless zones
In accordance with the instructions of the health committee, a
detailed report on smokeless zones was submitted for consideration at
the November meeting.
After setting out the position both nationally and in regard to
areas which already possessed smokeless zone powers, the following
considerations would appear to apply to Lewisham in particular :—
(1) It would probably be impracticable, or anyhow inexpedient,
to promote a borough council Bill to enable a smokeless zone to be
established and therefore if the Council were convinced of the desirability
of such a zone they should try and get the LCC to include the necessary
clauses in their next General Powers Bill.
(2) It was thought that a smokeless zone in a residential area such
as Lewisham was more difficult to bring about as it was not possible to
burn bituminous coal smokelessly in an open grate and supplies of
smokeless solid fuel were at present insufficient to meet a very great
increase in the demand. It was understood that in order to help public
opposition on the ground of financial burden Salford was prepared to
pay compensation up to a maximum of £2 a house to assist in the
alteration or suitable adaptation of existing fuel burning appliances or
in the introduction of more modern equipment. This might also be
necessary in London. At present in this country 35 million tons of coal
were being used yearly for domestic purposes. Thirty-seven million
tons of solid smokeless fuel were being produced annually, but much
of this was for special industrial purposes; only 5 million tons were
available for homes.
(3) The LCC were considering the whole matter in conjunction
with the Metropolitan Boroughs' Standing Joint Committee, and it
might be desirable to await the result of this conference.
(4) Everything must have a beginning and there seemed no reason
why individual boroughs should not do what they could to reduce
smoke in the atmosphere without waiting for further legislation. Thus,
(a) any new blocks of flats put up by the Council might be designed
to be free of smoke emission. In this connection smokeless
estates had already been established by other authorities.
The Council's block of flats known as Passfields had no open
fires but the central heating was by bituminous coal.
(b) It should be remembered also that there was in Pimlico a
district heating scheme in which residual heat was used
from the Battersea Power Station; district heating was always
a possible development elsewhere, and had been used in
Continental countries for many years.
(c) Under the Housing Act, 1949 if the Council made a grant for
the improvement of a house, conditions could be stipulated
whereby any scheme for alteration to fuel burning appliances
should assist the burning of solid smokeless fuels— i.e.,
bringing in the "prior approval" requirement.