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His duty is to call at each dwelling in the proposed area and
record details of the existing appliances, new appliances required and
probable cost of installation as well as an estimate of present annual
consumption of solid fuel. From this information an estimated is
made on the number of appliances which will require replacement or
adaptation and the cost of the proposed or necessary work and the
variation in demand which will arise for smokeless fuel, gas and
electricity in the proposed area.
Between May and December approximately 2,500 premises were
inspected.
Measurement of Pollution
For some years the department has maintained three deposit
gauges which are changed each month and three instruments to measure
daily the amount of smoke and sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere by
the volumetric method. The figures gained from this apparatus
contribute to the local and national information from which the degree
of pollution can be assessed. The results are collated by the
Warren Spring Laboratory of the Department of Scientific and Industrial
Research and published in their monthly bulletin. During the year
the Minister of Housing and Local Government addressing a Standing
Conference, on which this Council is represented, recommended the
adoption in principle, of the findings of a specialist working party on
the measurement of atmospheric pollution. The Minister requested
the co-operation of Local Authorities in implementing the recommendations
of the Working Party Report and in particular the scheme to
build up an improved national picture of the atmospheric pollution
problem. These proposals included a request to a number of
statistically selected Local Autnorities to establish daily smoke and
sulphur dioxide filters, according to a new formula, the purpose of
which is to create a national average for different types of districts
i.e. residential district with high population, residential district with
low population, industrial working district and smoke control areas,
against which each Authority will be able to judge its own results.
Hornsey has been selected as one of the areas to be included for the
special calculations and the Council has agreed to co-operate by
establishing measuring instruments on sites selected in co-operation
with the staff of the Warren Spring Laboratory. Five smoke and
sulphur dioxide filters and two deposit gauges were brought into use
early in 1961.
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