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
Paddington 1959
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington, Metropolitan Borough of]
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30
Since the appointed day for the coming into force of these
provisions (31st December, 1956) fifty-four notifications have been
received. Approval under section 3 (2) has been given to twentythree
applications and withheld in one case where the chimney
height was considered to be inadequate in relation to the surrounding
buildings.
SMOKE CONTROL AREAS.—In 1959, on receipt of a circular
from the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, the Council
reviewed the progress in making Smoke Control Orders and decided,
as requested by the Minister, on a phased programme for the
Borough. Ultimately it is anticipated that the whole Borough will
form a smokeless zone and in conjunction with the other Metropolitan
Boroughs the whole of the County will, by and large, be covered
by a series of Smoke Control Orders.
Paddington's programme was based on the Wards, each ward forming the basis of an Order with the estimated year of operation as shown below.
| 1959 | Hyde Park Ward (part) .. | 2,801 | 2,658 | 52 |
| 1959 | Lancaster Gate East Ward | 5,154 | 4,732 | 150 |
| 1960 | Lancaster Gate West Ward | 5,542 | 5,035 | 120 |
| 1961 | Westbourne Ward | 7,848 | 7,392 | 167 |
| 1962 | Readings Ward | 5,549 | 5,016 | 106 |
| 1963 | Harrow Road North Ward | 5,817 | 5,590 | 98 |
| Harrow Road South Ward | 5,999 | 4,620 | 83 |
The Hyde Park No. 1 Order is now in operation and the
Lancaster Gate East Order is awaiting confirmation by the Minister.
The preliminary survey of the Lancaster Gate West Ward is well
advanced, and I have no doubt that subject to any unforeseen
circumstances or staff difficulties the programme will proceed on
the lines indicated; and the whole Borough will be dealt with by
1968 as planned.
Hyde Park No. 1 Smoke Control Order, 1959.—In my Report
for 1958 I gave preliminary figures in respect of the proposed
Smoke Control Area in the Hyde Park Ward. The Order was
subsequently approved by the Minister of Housing and Local
Government and came into operation on the 31st October, 1959.
Beside the publicity aimed at making the public aware of the
requirements of the Order with regard to smoke, letters were sent
to individual owners and occupiers of premises where the conversion
or adaptation of an appliance was likely to be necessary in order that
full advantage could be taken by them of the grant for such work
available under the Act.
Due to the excellent work of the Clean Air Inspector, Mr.
Adams, the conversion and adaptation of appliances proceeded
smoothly.
A report to the Public Health Committee in March showed
that of those appliances to which work had been deemed necessary
on survey only forty remained unconverted. Of these, seven were
in vacant premises and solid smokeless fuel was being burnt on the
remainder. The Council have the power, under Section 12 of the