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49
ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION
Clean Air Act, 1968
This Act, which amends the Clean Air Act, 1956, received the
Royal Assent on 25th October, 1968. The following sections
became operative on 1st April, 1969:—
Section
2 Supersedes Section 5 of the principal Act and gives the
Minister of Housing and Local Government power to make
regulations concerning the emission of grit and dust.
6 Introduces new control by local authorities over the height
of furnace chimneys.
8 Gives the Minister power to compel a local authority to
carry out smoke control programmes or smoke control
orders, if he considers that insufficient progress is being
made.
9 Creates two new offences relating to the acquisition and
sale of unauthorised solid fuels in smoke control areas.
10 Amends the principal Act concerning variation orders,
postponement of orders and public enquiries.
11 Restates the relationship between the Clean Air Acts and
the Alkali Act.
12-15 and Schedules 1 and 2 Comprise various supplemental
provisions dealing with regulation-making powers, interpretation,
amendments, repeals and dates of operation.
Of these enactments, Section 9 tackles a problem which has
regularly caused difficulties in the past. Broadly speaking, an
offence is now committed if a person either buys or acquires
unauthorised fuel intending it to be used in a smoke control area,
or delivers unauthorised fuel to a building in a smoke control area.
Administrative action has been taken where necessary in respect
of the other sections.
Smoke control areas
The London Borough of Wandsworth (No. 3) Smoke Control
Order was confirmed by the Minister of Housing and Local Government
on 28th May, 1969. This Order was due to become
operative on 1st July, 1970, but in fact this date was amended to
1st July, 1971, owing to difficulties related to the availability of
solid smokeless fuels.
A map showing existing and proposed smoke control areas is
shown in this section of the report.
Smoke, etc., nuisances and observations
During the year, 63 complaints were made alleging nuisances
from smoke, dust, grit, etc., emitted from premises in the Borough.