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39
D(9) Atmospheric Pollution
Cement Dust Deposits
During February and March cement dust deposits were
observed on roofs and foliage during a period of persistent
east wind. Similar deposits were observed during the latter
part of the winter and which co-incided with fog dispersal.
Fortunately no observation records such heavy deposits as
existed during the spring of 1949.
D(10) River Thames—Effluvia
Though no complaints were received during the year
regarding objectionable odours arising from the above source,
nevertheless, such odours were perceptible from time to time
in the Town area. It is noted that the incidence of L.C.C.
expenditure for projects at the two London sewer outfalls was
scheduled at £100,000 for 1951-1952 whilst the following
published report indicates the various aspects of research
which is being undertaken by the Port of London Authority.
"A model of the River Thames has been constructed by
the Port of London Authority at the Royal Victoria Docks.
It is one of the largest tidal models in the world. So far, two
models have been constructed, the larger one being 400 feet
long and the work has been carried out under the direction of
Sir Claude Inglis, Director of Hydraulic Research in the
Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. The Port
of London Authority ordered the construction in their
capacity of Port Authority responsible for the maintenance
and improvement of the channels leading to the docks, and as
conservators responsible for the purity and depth of the river.
The models are primarily for the study of dredging problems
of the river. Each year, the Authority have to remove
nearly 3,000,000 cubic yards of silt from the docks and river
at a cost in the region of £500,000.
The Engineers and Experimenters working on the model
will use it in their search for answers to a large number of
problems which have been selected for consideration by the
Port of London Authority. The first of these is the reduction
of silt in Tilbury Tidal Basin. The removal of silt now costs
the Authority £75,000 per annum. The second problem is the
improvement of the channel through Halfway Reach, Barking
and Gallions Reach, to the King George V entrance to the
Royal Docks, and the third problem is the reduction of
siltation in the Royal Docks themselves.