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chimneys. This excludes bonfires, etc., but action may be taken under the provisions
of the Clean Air Act if the bonfire is causing nuisance.
Circular 51/65 of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, introduced
increased maximum costs for appliances required to be installed in Smoke Control
areas. The Council has accepted the list without modification and these costs will
apply to the 1966 programme. The increased maximum cost will give householders
a wider choice of appliance and fuel.
Industrial Atmospheric Pollution
Although the Borough contains several large industrial concentrations with
heavy industries, the amount of smoke from these areas is comparatively small.
The principal sources of concern are processes registered under the provisions of
the Alkali, &c. Works Regulation Act, 1906. These industries, which usually have
complex combustion problems associated with their processes, are the responsibility
of the Alkali Inspectorate. Close liaison and full co-operation is maintained with
the District Inspector.
Factory chimneys are kept under observation and any emission of dark smoke
which exceeds the permissible limits in the Dark Smoke (Permitted Periods) Regulations,
1958, is immediately dealt with. The discharge of dark smoke from a
chimney usually arises from a mechanical mishap rather than from inadequate
plant or inefficient boiler management. In cases of obdurate technical difficulty,
boiler plant owners can avail themselves of advice from the National Industrial
Fuel Efficiency Service.
A further objective designed to ensure adequate dispersion of flue emissions is
contained in Section 10 of the Act, which requires that, when building plans
for industrial premises incorporating the construction of a chimney for carrying
smoke, grit, dust or gases are submitted for bye-law approval, the Council must
be satisfied that the height of the chimney will be sufficient to prevent nuisance.
The height of chimneys is calculated in accordance with the Ministry's memorandum
on chimney heights and there is general acceptance of these standards.
Aesthetic considerations may be a complicating factor, but public health requires
the proper dispersion of the gaseous effluents of combustion and this can only be
achieved by adequate chimney heights, having due regard to surrounding buildings,
&c. If a high chimney is unacceptable, an alternative method of heating should
be used.
Existing chimneys into which a new plant is connected cause some difficulties.
The new plant may be considerably larger than the former plant and may discharge
into a chimney which was already too low for the equipment used. Much can be
and is achieved by persuasion, but powers to enforce an increased chimney height
in such circumstances are lacking in the present legislation.
During the year, 28 plans incorporating chimneys were submitted and all were
approved, but some only after amendment.
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