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40
SMOKE ABATEMENT—CLEAN AIR ACT
Preliminary consideration was given to the establishment of
"Smoke Control Areas" and a meeting of neighbouring Authorities
was called with a view to deciding whether joint action was called
for. It did not appear that such measures were necessary at this
stage, although consultation with individual adjacent districts will
doubtlessly be desirable, at a later stage.
Further sections of the Clean Air Act became operative in
January, 1958, but these, mainly relating to the emission of dark
smoke, are not likely to affect this district to any great extent.
The Council's representatives on the Thames-side Joint
Committee for the Abatement of Atmospheric Pollution continue
to play an active part in its deliberations. It was decided to ask the
Minister of Housing and Local Government for a Public Enquiry
into the nuisance caused by the dust from cement works in the
Thames-side area.
The Deposit Gauges and Sulphur Dioxide Gauges situated at
Riverside Road, North Cray, and at Holbeach Gardens, Blackfen,
have continued in operation. The two Deposit Gauges, which
indicate the amount of the solid polluting matter in the air (largely
cement flue dust) show figures which are largely parallel. Both
indicate a moderate but continuing improvement when compared
with previous years. This may, in part, be due to the weather
conditions prevailing in 1957, but may also represent that the
electro static precipitators, fitted to the kilns at the Thames-side
Cement Works, have been functioning more consistently.
The total solids deposited at North Cray are equivalent
to 11.522 tons per square mile per month, and at Blackfen the
corresponding figure is 11.468 tons.
The results obtained from the first complete year, during
which the Sulphur Dioxide gauges have been recording, also show
little difference between the two stations. Figures from both have
dropped slightly ; Sulphur dioxide is a highly irritant component
originating from the combustion of coal. It is present in higher
concentrations during the winter months. The figure for North
Cray, 1.27 milligrams of SO3 per day compared with 1.62 milligrams
at Blackfen.
The variations from month to month in the analysis of the
material collected in the Deposit and Sulphur Dioxide Gauges is
given in the following tables and on the graphs.