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75
in the atmosphere conies from domestic fireplaces burning coal. The
Minister expressed the hope that, although an encouraging start had been
made by local authorities in using their powers to make smoke control
orders, faster progress would be made, especially in "black areas". The
Minister requested that Councils in "black areas" should consider their
domestic smoke problem as a whole; decide on the smoke control orders
that would be required, and the order in which they should be made; and
assess how many years it would take to complete the work. Local
authorities were also asked to prepare a phased programme for establishing
smoke control areas over the ensuing five years.
Accordingly, the City Council at its meeting on 30th April, 1959,
approved a programme which provided for the whole of Westminster to
be covered by operative smoke control orders by 1st October, 1965. An
endeavour is, however, being made to accelerate this programme with a
view to its completion by 1st October, 1964.
Nine Smoke Control Orders are now in operation in Westminster,
covering 1,606 acres of the City; four further Orders, covering 428 acres,
have been made and confirmed by the Minister of Housing and Local
Government, and will come into operation on 1st November, 1963.
Details of the approved programme, and a map of the proposed Areas
are set out on page 78 this report.
In order to implement this programme, two Technical Assistants
were appointed to the staff of the Public Health Department, to assist in
the routine survey of premises.
The success of the programme will depend on the ability of local
builders to undertake in a relatively short time the necessary conversions
of fireplaces and ancillary works; and subsequently on the availability of
suitable smokeless fuels.
Grants towards adaptations or alterations
Owners or occupiers of domestic premises in a Smoke Control Area
may apply for a grant towards the cost of any necessary alterations or
adaptations to their existing equipment, to enable them to use an
authorised fuel. The work must have the approval of the City Council
and the expense must be incurred after the confirmation of the Order
but before it comes into operation. The amount of grant which can
be claimed is 70 per cent. of the total cost incurred; forty per cent. of
this total is subsequently recoverable by the local authority from the
Central Government. The Council is empowered, in certain cases, to
pay the full cost of conversion.
Smoke Control (Exempted Fireplaces) Order, 1959
This Order came into operation in July, 1959, and exempts from the
provisions of Section 11 of the Clean Air Act (the Section which provides