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Unfortunately the rate of production has not kept pace with the
increased demand, mainly because of the large capital expenditure
involved in setting up the necessary plant. More plant is being set up,
however, so the situation should improve.
Whatever may be the supply position regarding premium smokeless
fuel when the Clean Air Act was passed the Government expected
the demand for smokeless fuel to be satisfied by open fire cake and
enquiries into the supply situation encouraged the belief that this was
possible.
The Gas Board have repeatedly given assurance that there is an
ample supply of open fire coke to satisfy the demands of any smoke
control areas which are created. The approved grates installed in
such areas are equipped with facilities for gas ignition and are
specially designed to burn coke. There is a technique for burning
coke on an approved appliance and arrangements can be made for
demonstrations to show householders how to obtain the best results
Properly used 16-cwts. of coke will give as much heat as one
ton of coal.
There has been a move recently to set a standard specification
for open fire coke so that householders will be sure of obtaining a
fuel of uniform quality.
Before any smoke control area is created the Minister of Housing
and Local Government enquires into the available fuel supply and
will not approve the area unless he is satisfied that it is adequate.
Measurement of Atmospheric Pollution
Measurements of solid deposit and sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere
continued to be made in four places in the Borough, the
readings from which for the last six years are set out on page
78.
These measurements form part of an investigation in which
systematic measurements of air pollution are made in many parts
of the country. Results are obtained from 2,441 instruments.
The average deposit of solid matter for all sites throughout the
country for the year ended 31st March, 1957, was 18 tons per square
mile per month. The average of the six sites at which the greatest
deposits took place was 102 tons per square mile per month. The
average of the six sites at which the lowest deposits occurred was
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