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21
however, be useful in special cases, and the Standing Joint Committee
were informed that additional powers are necessary, and
should be limited to parts of buildings common in use.
CLEAN AIR ACT, 1956
This Act received Royal Assent on 5th July, 1956, and certain
sections came into operation on the 31st December, 1956.
Its main objects are to prohibit the emission of dark smoke from
chimneys, railway engines and vessels; to prohibit the installation
of new industrial furnaces unless they are reasonably capable of
being operated without emitting smoke; to require that the emission
of grit from furnaces shall be minimised; and to empower Local
Authorities to declare smoke control areas in which smoke emission
from chimneys shall be an offence.
ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION
(Smoke Abatement Officer—Mr. G. Stubbs.)
The figures of deposited matter in the industrial area of the
Borough showed a general improvement. This trend has been
consistent over the past few years and probably is largely due to the
restricted use of the old Bankside Generating Station. It is noted,
however, that the figures of deposits recorded at Walworth Road,
which is mainly a residential area, have shown a slight increase,
principally during the winter months. The sulphur dioxide figures,
both from the lead peroxide instruments and the daily volumetric
apparatus, have shown a higher average than the previous year, and
it is difficult to give an adequate reason for this increase especially
in view of the reduced domestic coal consumption in the Borough.
During the year, several complaints were received of smoke
emissions from works' incinerators burning waste products. Visits
by the Inspector resulted in the installation of one new incinerator
and two others being repaired. It is often found that primitive
equipment and methods are used for the burning of wastes and
rubbish.
Many of the smoke emissions from factory chimneys were found
to be due to excessive demands on the boilers or to mechanical faults
or to new personnel. In all cases the management concerned took
action to abate the nuisance. One furnace which had been converted
to oil burning had to return to coal because of the oil shortage, and
the change over caused some smoke at the time.
On several occasions advice has been sought of the Department
as to the most suitable type of heating appliance and fuel. Two
talks on " Air Pollution and what the Council is Doing " have been
given, and our exhibition models have been loaned to other
Boroughs.
The Council has in use two Standard Deposit Gauges, three Lead
Peroxide Instruments and one Smoke and Volumetric SulphurDioxide
Apparatus.