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pheric pollution and is dealt with by the Health Department. This approval of height is quite a
separate matter from any Town Planning requirements.
The majority of applications for approval are dealt with routinely in the department, but in two
instances special technical problems were present which required the advice of a Consultant
Engineer on the proposals submitted as it was the opinion of the department that the firms' proposals
would not be satisfactory and nuisance could arise.
The first of these in 1968 related to a factory with oil-fired steam-raising plant, the chimney
stack from which was situated only 120' from a tall block of flats from whose tenants and those of
surrounding properties complaints were being received.
Due to the height and proximity of the flats a complex technical problem had arisen and it was
felt in the department that the firm's proposals would not be satisfactory. Dr. Albert Parker,
C.B.E., D.Sc., F.R.I.C., C.Eng., M.I.Chem.E., lately Director of the Fuel Research Stations at
Maze Hill and Warren Springs, was engaged to investigate and advise the department.
The other case arose in 1969 when due to the topography of adjoining terrain, a proposal for a
new factory stack was considered to be unsatisfactory and Dr. Parker was again consulted.
I would like to place on record the excellent co-operation received from both firms and their
officers, who readily permitted our consultant access to their premises and boiler plant and
supplied willingly all the data requested.
The normal procedure following the non-approval of proposals is for the firms concerned to
reconsider the matter and submit fresh plans, which of course could again be unacceptable to the
Council. This procedure is inefficient and time-wasting. At the same time it would have been
incorrect to have informed the applicant firms of the contents of the reports and the consultant's
recommendations.
An original solution to the problem was reached, with the consultant's approval, by offering
the firms concerned a copy of the consultant's report for payment of half the consultant's fee, the
department agreeing in return to approve any of the recommendations selected from the report. It
is gratifying to report that both firms readily accepted this suggestion and there has been the
fullest co-operation at all stages.
This procedure has facilitated progress in what could otherwise have become tedious and contentious
negotiations and is a good example of co-operation between local authorities and industry
which could usefully be employed more widely.
Throughout the negotiations and the work of modifying the chimney at the first firm's premises,
the neighbouring residents were kept informed of the position by the firm and the Health
Department via the local residents' association — an example of good public relations.
NOISE
There is a growing public awareness of and sensitivity towards noise and an increasing number
of complaints is being received in the department. These complaints have involved noise originating
from industrial premises, super-markets, launderettes, a children's nursery and neighbours, etc.
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