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ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
was resubmitted to the Department of the Environment at the end of the
year and that the necessary preliminary arrangements were put in hand. The
Order will affect 3,176 premises covering 1,046 acres in the south-east area
of the Borough and, if confirmed, will come into operation on 1st August,
1973.
In common with many other boroughs, the possible shortage of solid smokeless
fuel resulted in Smoke Control Orders being suspended in a large part of
the borough from 8th December, 1970, to 31st March, 1971. This left householders
in this area free to purchase and use bituminous coal if they wished.
However, supplies of smokeless fuel were better than had been expected and
the winter passed with apparently little hardship because of limited fuel
supply - and there was no significant increase in pollution.
The only part of the borough remaining to be dealt with by Smoke Control
Orders after the No. 18 Order is confirmed will be in the north-east. This
area includes approximately 11,000 premises and it is hoped that it can be
covered by two Orders, planned so that they will maintain continuity with
completion of the programme for the borough by 1975.
Industrial Atmospheric
Pollution
Already the impact of natural gas is being felt in industrial areas of Enfield,
and some major furnace operators have changed, or are in the process of
changing, from heavy oil to natural gas. This means a marked reduction in the
total emission of sulphur dioxide in these areas. Some operators are taking
advantage of the Gas Board scheme of planned interruptable supplies. This
offers favourable tariffs if a cut in supply is accepted for a limited number of
days during periods of heavy demand, and requires the use of alternative fuel
for such periods. It is encouraging to see that the trend for alternative fuels
is towards the light distillate oil, with low sulphur content.
Section 3
Clean Air Act 1956
Section 6
clean Air Act 1968
During the year the installation of 40 furnaces was approved under Section 3
of the Clean Air Act 1956. Nine requests for approval of chimney height
under Section 6 of the Clean Air Act 1968 for furnaces exceeding one-and-a-
quarter million B.T.U.'s or its equivalent were approved.
Alkali, Etc., Works
Regulation Act 1906
Complaints of nuisance from processes registered under the Alkali, etc.,
Works Regulation Act 1906 are not infrequent, and one series of emissions
from registered processes resulted in a petition from over 800 householders.
The Health Committee referred this case to the Secretary of State for the
Environment for investigation by the Alkali Inspectorate. At the request of
the Alkali Inspector, continuous daily measurements of sulphur dioxide were
taken in the vicinity of the premises concerned. Although the average
readings obtained were not significantly different from the general level in
the area, this fact does not diminish the nuisance and annoyance complained
of by householders during particular weather conditions.
Measurement of
Pollution
Measurement of pollution from smoke and sulphur dioxide was continued at
the nine sites used during 1969 and 1970. Three of the sites are those used
during the national survey some years ago, and the fourth is in a residential
area. The results were broadly comparable with those of the previous years,
and no significant trend was apparent. Five of the instruments have been
used to monitor pollution in the vicinity of the new Greater London Council
refuse disposal plant at Angel Road, Edmonton, but although the plant is
now in operation, there has been no change in the levels of smoke or sulphur
dioxide.
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