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61
ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION
Clean Air Acts, 1956 and 1968
Legislation: The Clean Air (Emission of Grit and Dust from
Furnaces) Regulations, 1971
The above Regulations arise from the provisions of Section 2
of the Clean Air Act, 1968, which deals with the emission of grit
and dust from certain furnaces. This section empowers the making
of regulations which prescribe specific limits to the quantities
which may be emitted in particular cases.
These Regulations prescribe limits applicable to certain furnaces,
and provide that the emission of grit and dust in excess of such
limits will constitute an offence. They came into force on 1st
November, 1971, but their application to existing furnaces has
been postponed till 1st January, 1978.
The Clean Air (Measurement of Grit and Dust from Furnaces)
Regulations, 1971
These Regulations, which came into operation on 1st March,
1971, re-enact the Clean Air (Measurement of Grit and Dust)
Regulations. 1968, which prescribe the requirements to be observed
in recording measurements of grit and dust emitted from certain
furnaces, in accordance with Section 7 of the Clean Air Act. 1956.
The provisions of that section have been considerably affected by
Section 5 of the Clean Air Act, 1968, and, in particular, the description
of furnaces to which the Regulations can apply has been
extended. The 1968 Regulations have accordingly been re-enacted
so that they will apply to the extended description of furnaces.
Smoke Control Orders
The Council's third Smoke Control Order became operative on
1st July, 1971. The fourth Smoke Control Order was due to come
into force on the same date but the fuel shortages of the winter of
1970-71 caused a postponement for 12 months.
The suspension of five Metropolitan Borough of Wandsworth
Smoke Control Orders, owing to the winter fuel crisis, remained
in force until 31st March, 1971. Supplies of solid smokeless fuels
were generally adequate during the latter half of the year and such
problems as arose were usually attributable to distribution difficulties
rather than to actual shortage. Liaison with local merchants,
who were invariably helpful, sufficed to solve without delay the
few problems which arose.
The Council made a fifth Smoke Control Order on 16th November,
1971, which was eventually confirmed by the Secretary of
State for the Environment on 9th February, 1972.
A map showing existing and proposed Smoke Control Orders is
shown in this section of the report.