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19
ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION.
Mr. G. Stubbs, the Council's Smoke Abatement Officer, has
submitted the following report:—
The figures of deposited matter in the Bankside area were still
high, though there was an over-all improvement compared to the
previous year. The old Bankside Generating Station was again
brought into use during peak periods, and must have contributed
considerably to the general pollution.
At Newington Lodge the London County Council has now installed
coke-burning furnaces to replace the old coal-fired boilers which
caused smoke and soot nuisance to local residents. This remedial
action by the L.C.C. was promised following letters of complaint
sent by the Borough Council.
Several complaints were received of smoke emission from factory
incinerators burning waste straw, wood chips and rubbish. Visits
by the Inspector and instructions on the proper methods of operating
the plants produced good results. Most of the other complaints of
smoke, were due to new stokers or excessive demands on the boilers.
In connection with the classes held at the Borough Polytechnic
for stokers and boiler-house operatives, the Council sent a circular
letter to all firms operating furnaces in Southwark seeking their
support in encouraging staff to attend. As a further step, the
employers were invited to a meeting at which there were short
lectures and a discussion on boiler efficiency and smoke abatement.
The Public Health Department staged a Health Exhibition in
the Municipal Offices and the section devoted to atmospheric
pollution proved very popular.
The Council appointed representatives to the newly formed
South East Division of the National Smoke Abatement Society.
As in previous years the Council has in use two Standard Deposit
Gauges, three Lead-Peroxide Instruments and one Smoke and
Volumetric Sulphur-Dioxide Apparatus.
The figures of the deposited matter as recorded on the sites in
Walworth Road and Bankside are as follows:—
1954 Walworth Road Bankside
January 19.6 75.5 tons per square mile.
February 30.2 78.8 tons per square mile.
March 25.2 32.4 tons per square mile.
April 11.2 19.4 tons per square mile.
May 26.6 31.2 tons per square mile.
June 20.4 20.5 tons per square mile.
July 11.7 77.0 tons per square mile.
August 14.5 22.3 tons per square mile.
September 18.8 31.9 tons per square mile.
October 22.8 72.5 tons per square mile.
November 21.6 56.7 tons per square mile.
December 22.7 75.9 tons per square mile.
During the year fifteen complaints were received regarding smoke
emissions; 179 observations and inspections were made by the
Inspector, and 8 Intimation Notices issued.