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58
Battersea'Power Station
Further emissions from the chimneys of Battersea Power Station
were observed from time to time during the summer months which
indicated that gas washing was not being carried out in accordance
with the condition imposed upon the operation of the Station, namely,
that the Central Electricity Generating Board should " use continuously
the most efficient methods which might for the time being be reasonably
practicable for the elimination of smoke and grit and the prevention of the
discharge of sulphur and its compounds into the atmosphere." There are
four separate gas washing plants at the Station and it is understood that
the Board's programme is for one plant to be overhauled each year, the
work being scheduled to be carried out as far as possible during the summer
months when the load on the Station is at a minimum and the atmospheric
conditions are more favourable for the rapid dispersal of chimney gases;
but it would appear that on occasion when a gas washing plant is out of
action for overhaul, smoke is emitted unwashed. It was apparent, therefore,
that the Board was not carrying out its obligation to wash the gases
before emission at all times, and the Council at its meeting on 10th
November, 1960, agreed that representations should be made to the
Minister of Power seeking his assistance in obtaining a stricter adherence
by the Board to its obligation.
Accordingly, a communication was addressed to the Minister of Power:
(i) pointing out that when periodical maintenance works were
carried out at either "A" or "B" section of Battersea Power
Station, it was evident that the Central Electricity Generating
Board was failing to comply with the conditions imposed by the
Minister upon the operat ion of the Station due to the fact that
the Board has not installed stand-by gas washing plant; and
(ii) requesting the Minister to consider requiring the Board to
take that, when maintenance works are in progress at either
section of the Station which could result in the emission of any
unwashed gases, the power output of the Station is kept at
such a level as will be within the limit of effective operation
of the usable gas washing plant.
The London County Council and the Battersea, Chelsea and Kensington
Borough Councils, who had joined with the Council on previous occasions
in making representations about the operation of Battersea Power Station,
were also invited to support the request in (ii) above.