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24
The Council's programme (formulated in 1959) envisaged that
the whole Borough would be a smokeless zone by 1968. The
delay caused by formal Inquiries before the confirmation of Orders
whenever objections are made, irrespective of the number of objectors,
will however extend this target date.
Installation of furnaces.—The following figures relate to
industrial furnaces, or domestic furnaces with a capacity of 55,000
or more B.T.Us. per hour, which must be notified under the Clean
Air Act.
No. of notifications under Sec. 3 (3) of intention
to instal a furnace 21 (26)
No. of applications under Sec. 3 (2) for prior
approval of the proposals 8 (4)
No. of applications under Sec 3 (2) approved by
the Council 8 (4)
NOISE.—
The Noise Abatement Act, 1960 came into force on the 27th
November, 1960 and as it has now been in operation for a year I
would make the following observations on its application in
Paddington.
One notice has been served concerning the noise from a dance
band in a local hall and legal proceedings were taken for noncompliance
with this notice. An Abatement Order (subsequently
complied with) was obtained and two guineas costs given.
In ten other cases noises about which complaints had been
received were abated after a visit by the Public Health Inspector.
The sources of these noises are of interest. Two were from the
playing of records in a private house and one from a broadcast by a
music shop, four were in connection with workplaces, one from
work on a building site, and one each from the shovelling of coke
for the furnace of a block of flats and from a neighbour's cockerels.
Complaints were also received about noisy parties held by
immigrants but these referred to one night only and not to any
continuing nuisance. Such complaints are referred to the Welfare
Officer, Miss Harrison.
Before the publicity given by the passing of the Noise Abatement
Act, complaints about noise were rare. Noise was accepted
to a large degree as an unavoidable product of the progress of our
civilisation. It may be that the Act will not contribute much directly
to the overall reduction of noise, as its practical application must be
to isolated sources as the need arises. The Act could however be the
beginning of a change of attitude towards noise generally. Must
aircraft be noisier as they get bigger? Can pneumatic drills not be
made less nerve-racking? Surely car doors could be made so that
they need not be banged when shut! This last item is not unimportant.
It is always quoted as a source of annoyance when late-night
clubs are established in residential areas. Above all, in this age of
flat-dwellers, far more should automatically be done to soundproof
rooms in new buildings and converted houses.