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It will be seen that throughout the year the atmosphere as recorded at
Highgate West Hill was better as regards deposited matter and sulphur than
either that in Camden Road or Gloucester Avenue and that in fact it approximates
to the lowest recordings in London.
The inference to be drawn from this is important It has been assumed that
air pollution knows no boundaries and that unless a large district is taken
little advantage will be gained by dealing with small smoke polluted areas
therein. The Highgate West Hill experience does not justify this assumption. I
am satisfied that in dealing with and remedying local sources of pollution much
advantage will materialise in the area concerned.
It will be seen that there is little to choose as judged by these scientific
measurements between the atmospheres in Camden Road and Gloucester Avenue. This
at first seems surprising for it is from the Gloucester Avenue area that most
complaints have arisen of nuisance created by smoke and grit from the Camden
Motive Power Depot The reason is probably this The prevailing wind, which is
south west tends to blow pollution away from Gloucester Avenue, and therefore
upon most occasions there is little to choose as judged by scientific measure
ment, between the two areas On the other hand when the wind is in the opposite
direction., then smoke and grit in large quantities is blown into the Gloucester
Avenue area creating hardship and nuisance.
It is difficult to estimate the effects on health of a small amount of
pollution over a long period What is certain is that a large amount of pollution
in a short time causes serious nuisance and brings very rightly a score of
complaints.
In addition to the monthly recording stations mentioned above two further
daily recording stations for smoke and sulphur have recently been set up one
at the Town Hall and one at the Highgate Library Observations at these two
latter stations commenced early in 1955.
Dealing with St Pancras generally a survey was made in 1953 This showed
that out of a total of 222 commercial plants 167 were using oil or coke or
to put it in another way 75% were using smokeless methods of obtaining power
or heat it is probable that since that time the position has improved.
Your sanitary inspectors are fully alive to the need for preventing air
Pollution and are ever watchful of all business premises Complaints however
are few and when observed are very quickly remedied without recourse to
methods other than that of informing the appropriate person of the nuisance.
There has been some nuisance from the Electricity Power Station in Royal
College Street but I am informed that within a short period this station may
be using oil exclusively instead of coal.
The area which has suffered most from air pollution is the Gloucester
Avenue area which abuts on to the Camden Motive Power Depot and I think it
would be wise to record the various steps that have been taken during 1954 to
deal with this matter.
V