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special action of this kind. On the other hand, a large proportion of the samples examinee
contained traces of pesticides, and in such samples the amounts, though too small to
attract any doubt as to the fitness of the food for human consumption, were sometimes
larger than had been expected for that particular pesticide or for that particular
kind of food. The results of surveys in subsequent years will be of great interest and
should do much to reveal any definite trend."
CLEAN AIR
Smoke Control Areas
Impetus has been maintained in the smoke control programme and the table on page 4'
shows the position at the 31st December 1968. It will be seen that 55,104 dwellings
are covered by Orders in operation, but the benefits of clean air affect a much wider
sector of the community and this can be gauged from the map on page 48.
Because national electricity generating capabilities had improved the Minister of
Housing and Local Government decided during the year to allow once again grant for
for the supply and fitting of direct heating electric fires in Smoke Control Areas. Since
December 1964 only electric storage heaters had qualified for grant.
Atmospheric Pollution
Information about smoke and sulphur in the atmosphere is obtained from apparatus
at the Town Hall, East Barnet, Branch Library, Edgware, offices at 308 Regents Park
Road, N.3., the Town Hall, Friern Barnet, and Branch Library in Golders Green. The
particulars are sent to the Warren Spring Laboratory of the Ministry of Technology for
assessment, and the results are included in the national survey of air pollution which
the Ministry is conducting.
The Clean Air Act 1968, which will become operative by Orders establishing
"appointed days" in respect of various provisions, contains a section enabling the
Local Authority to determine the height of chimneys of all classes of buildings, thus
rectifying an omission from the Clean Air Act 1956 which excluded blocks of flats,
offices and schools from control as to chimney heights.
I have written before on the advantages of district heating schemes using one
specially designed chimney discharging fumes at high level instead of a large number
of low independent chimneys serving individual properties. It was gratifying to note
that the Council have decided to have a considerable part of the Grahame Park
development heated by such a scheme and have approved a boiler installation
using light fuel oil with an output of 72 million B.Th.U's and a chimney height of 120 ft.
This height was a finally agreed compromise after much consultation with the Borough
Engineer and Surveyor, Borough Architect, Borough Planning Officer and the Greater
London Council to satisfy health needs, constructional problems and visual amenity.
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