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The general effect of this circular will be that the cost of Smoke
Control Order No. 5 and future Orders will be considerably increased
over the estimated figures on the present basis. However, it does give
a householder a wider choice of more efficient appliances and with a
reasonable grant towards the cost.
In due course an estimate of the increased total costs together
with a new schedule of approved costs of works ranking for grant
will be submitted to the Council for their approval.
In October a Public Meeting was held in Southaw Girls' School with
a programme similar to meetings held in previous years. The Chairman
of the General Purposes Committee opened the proceedings and a
panel consisting of the Chairman, members of the Coal, Electricity and
Gas Boards, the Medical Officer of Health and myself were present to
answer questions from the audience. Unfortunately the attendance
was very poor and the panel and other members of the Boards outnumbered
the audience. All three Boards had arranged exhibitions of
appliances in the hall.
The Council has continued to participate in the scheme for the
measurement of air pollution and the necessary equipment has been
in operation since early in 1962. The information derived from this
equipment is forwarded to a central laboratory and forms part of the
scheme for the estimation of air pollution in the Greater London area.
In connection with this scheme a summary of monthly readings for
the year of 1963 is appended.
SMOKE (microgrammes per cubic metee)
Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec(67)
(54) (33) (21) (24) (17) (43) (83) (129) (264)
Average value 186 215 80 66 33 28 23 23 43 67 104 121
Highest value 596 496 252 115 74 55 64 58 92 116 250 360
Lowest value 20 40 32 25 8 7 8 6 11 23 22 40
SULPHttR DIOXIDE (microgrammes per cubic metre)
Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
(130) (102) (68) (54) (60) (54) (87) (144) (221) (399)
Average value 296 334 193 142 79 51 53 100 84 152 218 180
Highest value 1,356 638 453 238 136 121 233 206 183 265 502 368
Lowest value 44 116 99 72 22 — 45 50 27 85 75 97
(Last year's averages in brackets)
Comparison between the figures in brackets in the table above and
the figures for 1963 show that there has been considerable fluctuation,
this being greatest in the months October, November, December.
December, 1962, however, was a smog period and the concentrations
would, of course, be exceptionally high. It is quite apparant that the
fluctuations are closely linked to weather.
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