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178
SMOKE NUISANCES.
Number of Nuisances.
Smoke Abatement Bill.
Number of Smoke Nuisances.
54 smoke nuisances were dealt with during the year:—13 Bow East,
4 Bow West, 8 North Bromley, 4 Bromley Central, 8 East Combined,
8 West Combined, and 9 Poplar South.
34 intimations and 23 statutory notices were served.
1 summons was applied for.
Smoke Abatement Bill.
A Bill to provide for the Abatement of Smoke.
The Smoke Abatement Bill has for its purpose the prevention of
nuisances caused by the improper emission of smoke.
By section 1 it is made incumbent upon the owner, occupier, or user
of a furnace to have such furnace constructed so that it will consume its
own smoke ; and the emission of smoke or grit from such furnace or its
chimney is constituted a nuisance. At the same time the Local Government
Board are given power to make special exemptions in those cases
in which it is impracticable to avoid making smoke in carrying on a
business, but such power to exempt is limited to ten years from the
passing of the Act, and an exemption itself must be renewed every two
years.
Section 2 lays down the penalties for offending against the Act, and
also the procedure of prosecution.
By section 3 the Local Government Board are authorised to set up
local smoke abatement authorities in those areas in which the local
sanitary authorities are failing to carry out their duties with regard to
smoke abatement. In London, the London County Council is made the
local smoke abatement authority.
Under section 4 local smoke inspectors may be appointed by the
local authority, subject to certain requirements as to experience, and to
the control of the Local Government Board.
By section 5 the Local Government Board are given the right to
inspect the records of offences under the Act, in order to see if the local
authority is properly carrying out its duties, and, subject to such obligation
being satisfied, the Local Government Board may pay not more
than half the salary of local smoke inspectors by way of grant in aid.