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Chimney heights are calculated in accordance with the advice given in a Ministry
memorandum, and there is general acceptance of these standards, but local conditions
may occasionally call for heights greater than those suggested in the memorandum.
Aesthetic considerations may be a complicating factor, and a high chimney may be
unacceptable from the Town Planning aspect. This may mean that an alternative
fuel or form of heating may have to be considered.
During the year 43 plans incorporating chimneys were submitted and were
approved after amendment in certain cases. Of these, two were dealt with under
the new provisions of the 1968 Act.
Section 3 of the Act requires that new furnaces (except those of domestic
capacity) must, as far as practicable, be capable of being operated without emitting
smoke when burning fuel of a type for which the furnace is designed; it is an offence
to install such furnaces without previously notifying the local authority but whilst
notification is obligatory, the submission of plans for approval is optional.
Forty-five notifications of intended installations were received. After modification
of some proposals, these were all approved.
Measurement of Air Pollution
Since 1967 the Ministry of Technology has been carrying out a study of the
level of carbon monoxide in the atmosphere, with special reference to the concentration
of this gas in busy streets where large numbers of people congregate. The
investigation was completed during 1969. An infra-red gas analyser was installed
for this purpose in Church Street, Enfield, and daily measurements were recorded
by this Department. Similar investigations were made in Birmingham, Manchester,
Cardiff, Glasgow, Luton and Portsmouth. Motor vehicles are the main source of
this type of pollution in streets, and the concentration of carbon monoxide showed
a wide fluctuation following closely the rise and fall of traffic flow. Full details of
the investigation are not yet available for publication, but it is reassuring to note
that in Enfield the maximum concentrations of carbon monoxide were only of very
brief duration. The swifter flow of traffic resulting from the one-way system in Enfield
Town should have some beneficial effect in respect of this type of pollution.
The London Borough of Enfield was one of the participating authorities in the
National Survey of Air Pollution which was completed in 1968, but details of the
investigation are not yet available for publication. Four smoke filtration and sulphur
dioxide volumetric measuring instruments were used in connection with this, and
three instruments were used at other sites.
At the end of 1968 location of the instruments was re-arranged. The former
three National Survey sites at Honilands School, Brimsdown, and Bush Hill Park
were kept in operation to give continuity of measurement in these areas. An
instrument was installed at Southgate Town Hall, Green Lanes, N.13. This location
is within the No. 16 Smoke Control Area which came into operation in July, 1969,
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