London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Lewisham 1960
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham Borough]
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25
Atmospheric pollution
Clean Air Act
During 1960 two more areas were made the subject of Smoke Control Orders and particulars with regard to these are as follows:—
| Name | No. 6 (Lewisham Park) | No. 7 (Sandhurst) |
|---|---|---|
| Acreage | 320 | 200 |
| Open space | 30 | — |
| No. of industrial premises | 12 | 4 |
| No. of commercial premises | 294 | 44 |
| No. of dwellings | 3,730 | 2,187 |
| No. of other premises | 19 | 5 |
| Present annual tonnage of bituminous coal etc., to be replaced | 4,080 | 2,500 |
| Likely additional fuel required annually | ||
| (a) Electricity (BTUs) | 450,000 | 250,000 |
| (b) Gas (therms) | 85,000 | 50,000 |
| (c) Oil, etc, | Nil | Nil |
| (d) Solid smokeless fuel (tons) | 2,900 | 2,000 |
| Existing appliances requiring replacement or adaptation | ||
| (a) Open fires | 5,666 | 3,606 |
| (b) Open fires with boilers | 108 | 184 |
| (c) Combination grates without boilers | 113 | 18 |
| (d) Combination grates with boilers | 19 | 4 |
| (e) Washboilers | 3 | 3 |
| (f) Domestic boilers | 151 | 337 |
| (g) Other appliances (freestanding stoves etc.) | 153 | 92 |
| Total estimated cost of works | £83,983 | £42,046 |
| Date: Order made | 27.7.60 | 9.6.60 |
| Order confirmed | 9.11.60 | 9.11.60 |
| Order operative | 1.8.61 | 1.8.61 |
The progressive total (when these Orders are operative) will be
1,970 acres covering 16,722 dwellings.
Programme
As a result of the experience gained in the first few areas of the
borough it has been decided to bring forward the target dates for the
remaining proposed Smoke Control Orders. The programme is now
shortened from 1968 to 1965. This will be a difficult task, but the advantages
of smoke control, and its potential saving of money on such
things as clothes, curtains, paint and the fabric of buildings, to say
nothing of the unassessable though considerable benefit to individual
and communal health, make the attempt to shorten the time schedule
well worth while. At the end of December 1960, the position in relation
to areas still the subject of smoke control action was as follows:
(continued on p. 28)