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Clean Air
During the year three Smoke Control Orders were confirmed by the Minister
of Housing and Local Government, and all will become operative on 1st July,
1966. These three Orders are the Stepney No.5 covering 139 acres, Stepney
No.6 covering 306 acres, and the Poplar No.16 covering 488 acres. When these
three Orders become operative a total of 3,629 acres will be covered by the
27 Orders made by the three constituent authorities, leaving 1,169 acres to be
covered by future orders, which it is hoped will be made in 1966/7. Pacing
this page is a map showing the smoke control areas established in the Borough.
During the year a number of complaints were received and investigated and,
as in previous years, the most serious and persistent source of nuisance from
smoke and grit proved to be the Electricity Generating Stations, particularly
that at Watts Grove. This is a booster station, and is only required to supply
electricity to the national grid during periods of heavy demand in the winter.
There are six steam generators which together produce sufficient steam for the
two turbo-alternators, which have a combined output of 25 megawatts. Originally
the steam generators at this Station were intended to be fired on pulverised
fuel, but after installation they were converted to solid fuel utilising chain
grate stokers. This has proved to be an unsatisfactory adaptation, by virtue
of the fact there is a large combustion space, the upper part of which remains
relatively cool thus causing excessive cooling of the flue gases with the
resultant emission of smoke. The Central Electricity Generating Board has
undertaken to endeavour to improve the supply position to the point where it
will be possible to close this station within the next two or three years.
The atmospheric pollution recording stations which were set up by the
three constituent authorities, have remained in use, and recordings of the
amount of grit and sulphur dioxide present in the atmosphere are measured
thereat. There are in all seven recording stations at strategic points within
the Borough; three in Poplar, three in Stepney and one in Bethnal Green. The
results of the recordings are sent to the Warren Springs Laboratory who
co-ordinate them and in due course make their findings available to local
authorities.
Under the provisions of Section 3(3) of the Clean Air Act 1956, a furnace
may not be installed in a building unless notice of proposal to install has
been given to the Council. Notices were given to the Council of proposal to
install furnaces in 8 premises, applications for prior approval under Section
3(2) being submitted and approved in 7 instances.
Statistics on page 101.
48.