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A significant number of householders are burning smokeless
fuel on grates designed for the purpose, and there is evidence to
show that once they become accustomed to the technique require
householders become enthusiastic about its use and would not revert
to the use of coal. They find that owing to improved efficiency the
annual cost of heating is no greater than with coal and may indeed
be less. This consideration coupled with cleanliness in handling and
the fact that it is not necessary to have a bi-annual visit from the
Sweep makes the burning of smokeless fuel an attractive proposition
Although the Local Authority has power to declare certain
areas to be Smoke Control Areas, it is obviously better that the
public generally should be persuaded of the wisdom of such a
measure rather than that they should be forced to use smokeless
fuel against their will.
To this end your officers have continued to give lectures and
take every opportunity to encourage the voluntary use of smokeless
fuel.
Industry generally has done a great deal to meet this problem
by adopting new methods and changing plant, and should not be
too much to expect householders to play their part by taking similar
action.
Thames View Estate—Smoke Control Area
With 1,200 tenancies on the Estate there have been comparatively
few difficulties concerning the use of unauthorised fuels. Sudden
cold spells create a sharp increase in demand for fuel which present
problems of distribution. This is because the economical method of
carrying on any trade is to have a constant level demand rather
than peak periods. The answer to the problem would be be for each
tenant to store sufficient fuel during warmer periods is to last then
over cold spells. The limited fuel storage accommodation in the flat
and some tenants own economic circumstances however, present
difficulties.
One feature which contributes to the problem is that tenants are
usually reliant upon one merchant because of th r method of payment
for fuel. Many of them pay weekly on a club system and in
the event of their supplier not having suitable fuel available the
have no ready money with which to pay for fuel from a merchant
operating a trolley service.
It is apparent that something will have to be done to improve
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