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Mr. Stanley Cohen, C.B.E., C.C., a Member of the Health Committee, showed considerable
interest in the matter and on the recommendation of the Committee the City Remembrancer was
instructed by the Court of Common Council to promote legislation with a view to mitigating
this form of pollution. Suitable Clauses were included in the City of London (Various Powers)
Bill which was presented to Parliament in November 1970. The clauses attracted a certain
amount of opposition, particularly on behalf of the oil interests who were fearful that a precedent
would have consequences in other areas of the country, but in the end a satisfactory compromise
was achieved and the Act received the Royal Assent on the 5th August, 1971. The material provisions
from the Act came into operation on the 1st January 1972. Their effect will be gradual
but by 1987 it will not be lawful to burn fuel oil in a furnace anywhere in the City when the
weight of sulphur exceeds one per cent of the weight of the oil. It is hoped that the implementation
of the Act will result in a considerable reduction in the ground-level concentration
of SO2.
During the year four applications have been received under the Chimney Height Regulations,
1968. These regulations provide powers to ensure that chimneys are carried to such a height as
to disperse the flue gases, thereby minimising any nuisance to the surrounding locality. As these
Regulations deal only with installations which are 1¼ million British thermal units an hour or
more, some appliances are installed without any application having to be made to adjust the
chimney height. One particular problem is that of gas-fired appliances which are being installed
in the City and which dilute the flue gases by means of introducing air into the flue, at a ratio
of 50 to 1, and then discharge the resultant mixture near ground level. In practice this method
has proved to be unsatisfactory because of the special conditions which exist in the City area.
The flue gases are discharged in confined areas within the premises, usually a lighting well,
and certain forms of pollution can arise and be retained in such an area, thereafter entering the
windows and other apertures in the building. Many suggestions have been made and much useful
advice given to the various installers of this equipment, and usually they are prevailed upon to
discharge the flue gases in such a position as not to cause pollution.
The enactment of the 1968 Clean Air Act and subsequently the Clean Air (Emission of
Dark Smoke) (Exemption) Regulations, 1969, have permitted the burning of bonfires, subject to
certain conditions, but the provisions and the conditions laid down therein are so wide that
they have tended to make the prevention of bonfires and smoke therefrom impossible.
Measurement of Atmospheric Pollution
These measurements have continued throughout the year at two stations with volumetric
apparatus. The purpose of these instruments is two-fold:-
(1) To give indication of the pollution of S02- Measurement is made in micrograms
per cubic metre.
(2) To give an indication of particulate matter which is in the atmosphere. This is
also measured in micrograms per cubic metre.
The measurement of atmospheric pollution in this manner is carried out on a nationwide
basis and the results are forwarded to the Ministry of Technology at Warren Springs for computation.
It is becoming apparent that in the near future the number of sets of volumetric apparatus
in the City will have to be increased. This is because concentrations of pollution can vary
markedly by reason of very localised conditions and, as we now require more information in
order to ascertain accurately the level of localised concentrations of sulphur dioxide, arrangements
are to be made for the existing volumetric apparatus stations to be increased by three,
giving a total of five such stations.
Samples of rain-water and various pollutants therein are taken from a standard deposit
gauge situated on the roof of the Guildhall. This apparatus had to be moved during the year
because of the rebuilding programme on the west side of the Guildhall, when it was found that
cement concrete from a hopper which was being used in the building operation was being dropped
in the deposit gauge. These samples are submitted to the Corporation's Public Analyst monthly
and the resultant analysis is returned to the Health Department.
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