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41
ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION
CLEAN AIR ACT, 1956
Smoke Control Areas
During the year the Metropolitan Borough of Wandsworth
(No. 7) Smoke Control Order came into operation and the London
Borough of Wandsworth (No. 1) Smoke Control Order was made
and confirmed. The latter is the first Order in our revised smoke
control programme by which it is proposed that the whole of the
Borough will become a smokeless zone by 1970.
The survey of the area covered by the proposed London Borough
of Wandsworth (No. 2) Smoke Control Order was nearing completion
at the end of the year and the Order is likely to be made
during the early part of 1967.
A map showing the existing and proposed smoke control areas
will be found facing page 42.
Smoke, etc., Nuisances and Observations
During the year, 38 complaints were made alleging nuisances
from smoke, dust, grit, etc., emitted from premises in the Borough.
All these complaints received careful and sometimes prolonged
investigation.
In addition to dealing with specific complaints, observations are
kept upon the chimneys of industrial plant in the Borough and
appropriate action is taken when necessary. During the year 146
such observations were made.
Installation of Furnaces
Notification is required under Section 3 of the Clean Air Act,
1956, of any proposal to instal a furnace with a heating capacity
of 55,000 or more British thermal units per hour. This Section,
which does not apply to furnaces designed solely or mainly for use
for domestic purposes, is designed to ensure that any new furnaces
installed shall be, so far as is practicable, capable of being operated
continuously without emitting smoke. Six such notifications
were received during the year.
Chimney Heights
A Circular and Memorandum from the Minister of Housing and
Local Government places a duty on local authorities to satisfy
themselves that new chimneys, to which Section 10 of the Clean
Air Act applies, will be high enough to prevent, so far as practicable.
smoke, grit, dust or gases emitted from the chimneys from
becoming prejudicial to health or a nuisance. Guidance is given
on the calculation of chimney heights, based on the amount of