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48
ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION
CLEAN AIR ACT, 1956
Smoke Control Areas
During the year the London Borough of Wandsworth (No. 1)
Smoke Control Order—the first Order in the Council's revised
smoke control programme—came into operation. A further Order,
the London Borough of Wandsworth (No. 2) Smoke Control Order
was made and submitted to the Minister of Housing and Local
Government but confirmation of this Order had not been received
by the end of the year.
A map showing existing and proposed smoke control areas will
be found facing page 48.
Smoke, etc., Nuisances and Observations
During the year, 48 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 249
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. Seven 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