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60
ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION
Clean Air Acts, 1956 and 1968
Smoke Control Orders
The Council's third Smoke Control Order was due to come into
force on 1st July, 1970, but for reasons given below, the operative
date was postponed for twelve months. The fourth Smoke Control
Order was made by the Council on 3rd February, 1970, but will
not now come into operation until 1st July, 1972.
Before the third Smoke Control Order was made and confirmed
by the Minister of Housing and Local Government, assurances
had been received from the Authorities concerned that adequate
supplies of solid smokeless fuel would be available in the scheduled
area. However, it subsequently became abundantly clear that the
serious gap in production, resulting from the Gas Board's decision
to end the manufacture of coke, was not being bridged by increased
output from the private firms.
Regular liaison with local merchants and the National Coal
Board confirmed statements made in Parliament and in the press
that the demand for solid smokeless fuels was unlikely to be met
during the winter of 1970/71. Under these circumstances, the
Council decided to postpone the operative date of the third Smoke
Control Order until 1st July, 1971, and that of the fourth Smoke
Control Order until 1st July, 1972.
In anticipation of future difficulties, an ad hoc fuel enquiry
office was established to offer help and advice to those unable to
obtain supplies. Thanks to the co-operation of the local merchants
and the help of the District Sales Office of the National Coal
Board, it was possible to assist a number of residents, mostly
elderly or infirm, who might otherwise have been without heating
when shortages predictably arose during the second half of the
year. By 31st December, sixty calls had been received. The
Department was able to help in the majority of cases, but shortage
of boiler fuel remained a serious problem for some time.
To alleviate the general effects of the shortages, the Minister
was asked to suspend the operation of the existing Metropolitan
Borough of Wandsworth Smoke Control Orders Nos. 1, 2, 4, 5
and 6, and this he agreed to do from 9th November, 1970 to 31st
March, 1971.
A map showing existing and proposed smoke control areas is
included in this section of the report.
Smoke, dust and grit nuisances and observations
During the year, 54 complaints were made alleging nuisances
from smoke, dust or grit emitted from premises in the Borough.
All these complaints received careful and sometimes prolonged
investigation.