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in limited quantities but there were plans for expanding its production. As far as is
known this fuel was not available in Ealing during the year.
New furnaces
During the year 78 notifications were received in accordance with Section 3 of the
Clean Air Act, 1956 of the intention to instal new furnaces at various domestic,
commercial and industrial premises in the Borough. In many of these cases further
enquiries were made to obtain fuller information about proposed installations and as
to the type of fuel and chimneys to be used. In certain instances the Council's consultant
was asked for his opinion and efforts generally resulted in agreement being reached
in the planning stages on modifications and improvements designed to provide more
efficient operation and dispersal of flue gases. Section 3 of the Act provides that all
new furnaces installed should be capable, as far as practicable, of being operated
continuously without emitting smoke when burning fuel of a type for which the furnace
was designed.
Prior Approval
One application for prior approval under Section 3 of the Act in respect of an oilfired
central heating boiler for a new Old People's Home, was received during the year.
Certain modifications to the proposals were made and accepted and the application was
finally approved.
Heights of Chimneys
Plans of new or extended buildings submitted to the Borough Engineer and Surveyor
and passed to the Department for comment are dealt with in accordance with Section
10 of the Clean Air Act whenever they show that it is proposed to construct chimneys
for carrying flue gases from the building. During 1963, fifteen such plans were examined
and in seven cases it was necessary to offer criticisms which resulted in amendments
being made to the plans to provide more satisfactory chimney heights. In one instance
it was recommended that a plan for an extension to an existing industrial building
should be rejected. This building was to include large boilers for raising process steam
and for central heating and the chimneys proposed were considered to be totally
inadequate in height for the plant concerned. Satisfactorily amended plans submitted
later were approved by the Council under Section 10.
Comments on the unsatisfactory scope of Section 10 of the Act has been made in
previous years. This section deals with the height of industrial chimneys, but as it only
applies when plans have to be submitted in accordance with building bye-laws any
buildings exempt from bye-law control are also exempt from the provisions of this
section. It is to be hoped that there will in the near future be amendments to this
section to remedy this anomaly.
Smoke from Bonfires
A large number of enquiries received from householders in smoke control areas
concerning the burning of garden rubbish prompted the production of an explanatory
leaflet which has been issued whenever necessary. Several complaints about bonfires
were dealt with during the year. In all cases the offenders were seen by the Public
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