View report page

extemporised filters such as scarves and handkerchiefs.
The extreme weather conditions at the end of the year led to
some difficulties in the distribution of solid fuel, mainly because the
stock piles were frozen into solid masses. Adequate summer storage
by householders would go a long way towards avoiding these difficulties
but the average storage facilities for fuel are extremely restricted.
This is particularly true of flats, and houses in multiple occupation.
Households which have relied on regular weekly deliveries from
merchants found themselves unable to obtain supplies and the only
alternative was the purchase of fuel in small quantities in prepacked
bags. This proved to be very costly and such people as old age
pensioners and others of very limited means found the price prohibitive.
New furnaces
During the year notifications under Section 3 of the Clean Air
Act, 1956, concerning the installation of new furnaces, continued to
be received by the Department. This section deals mainly with
furnaces or boilers with a heating capacity of not less than fifty five
thousand British Thermal units per hour. The necessary inspections
under the Act have been carried out by the public health inspectors
and no insurmountable difficulties have been encountered in ensuring
that each installation could be so installed and operated as to avoid
nuisance.
Additional assistance
Additional financial assistance is given to old age pensioners
and others who lack the means to pay the balance after seven-tenths
of the cost of conversions has been paid by the Council. A simple
form of application is completed, and the applicant is then interviewed
at home. Unjustified applications are rarely made, although in a
few cases the sub-committee which deals with applications has granted
only part of the sum in question. 33 cases were dealt with in
1962, and the total sum granted (in addition to the statutory grant)
was £214.16s. 2d.
Grant for special purposes
Grants are not paid for the conversion of fireplaces in commercial
and industrial premises, but in the case of churches, chapels
and buildings used for charitable, educational and social welfare
purposes, the Council may pay a grant. There is no exchequer
contribution in these cases.
These grants may not exceed the cost of essential work,
although the applicants may carry out more expensive work if they
wish, meeting the extra cost themselves. This principle is the same
as that applied to private dwellings.
Three applications have been made since the smoke control
programme was commenced, and a grant to cover the whole of the
essential cost was made in each case, the total amount being
£59.10s. 6d.
28