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(c) every possible reasonable expedient will be adopted to allay the
complaints.
(d) the change to other forms of motive power is not sufficiently
advanced to enable the Transport Commission at this stage to
make any definite statement either that steam locomotives will
be withdrawn from the Camden Motive Power Depot in favour of
some other type or what period of time would be likely to
elapse for any such schemes to be completed.
Since that time the Report of the Committee on Air Pollution, under the
Chairmanship of Sir Hugh Beaver has been published in which special reference
was made to smoke caused by railways and also the Report of the British
Transport Commission upon the Modernisation and Re Equipment of British Railways,
which sets out the programme for gradually introducing other forms of motive
power in place of steam.
Further correspondence has ensued in order to obtain information as to
the date when electrification of the railway from Euston Station will be
commenced or, alternatively when steam locomotives will be replaced by diesel
engines.
The Borough Council has set up a Special Committee on Air Pollution which
had its first meeting on the 9th December 195.4
These are some of the steps which the Borough Council and its Committees
have taken to deal with the problem of air pollution and I trust it will reassure
the residents of the Borough that the Council and its officers are fully alive
to the nuisance which is being created and have taken every possible step to
ameliorate it.
Bousing Repairs and Rents Act, 1951
This Act, which came into operation on the 30th August, 1954, allows owners
under certain circumstances to increase the rent of controlled property One of
the conditions of a permitted rent increase is that the house shali be in good
repair and reasonably suitable for occupation.
The tenant can avoid the increase in rent if he can obtain a Certificate
from the Borough Council to the effect that the premises are not in good repair
and/or are not reasonably suitable for occupation having regard to the following
matters:-
(i) stability;
(ii) freedom from damp;
(iii) natural lighting;
(iv) ventilation;
(v) water supply;
(vi) drainage and sanitary conveniences, and
(vii) facilities for storage preparation and cooking of food
and for the disposal of water.
The duty of providing these Certificates falls upon the Public Health
Department and from 30th August 1954 to the end of May 1955, 282 Certificates
have been issued.
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