View report page

34
governed by the quantity of smokeless fuels available, and
the rate at which appliances can be converted or replaced.
During the year, the various ramifications of the Act
have been reviewed by the appropriate Commitees of the
Council, but as yet no smoke control area has been declared.
It has however been resolved that:
(1) The functions of the Council under sections 3, 10
and 24 be duly carried out by the Plans and Town Planning
Committee and that the model bye-laws submitted by the
Ministry of Housing and Local Government amending the
1953 bye-laws, be adopted.
(2) That suitable advanced publicity for a future propaganda
campaign should be inaugurated.
(3) That the pressure to make available more smokeless
fuels at reasonable prices be supported.
Having regard to smoke control areas already operative
in the Greater London area, it cannot be claimed that there
has as yet, been any perceptible diminution of seasonal
smog. Perhaps the ultimate objective will not be achieved
until atmospheric pollution is dealt with as was raw milk
in 1951 when the whole of the Greater London area was
declared a "specified area" for designated milk only. In
the scientific age, the prescribing of a like area in which
the burning of raw coal is prohibited should not be too
difficult a project having regard to all the humanitarian
benefits which would result therefrom.
Improvements to factory equipment in the area include
the installation of three chain grate stokers, and recording
instruments.
D (5)g Swimming Baths and Pools
(T) The Council's open air bath is situated in Stonewood
Road and comprises one pool of 55,000 gallons capacity
which is now exclusively used by the Kent Education Committee
during normal school hours, and local youth clubs
during the evenings and on Saturday mornings. Water in the
pool is heated to a temperature of 72 degrees Fahrenheit by
low pressure steam heating and is sterilised by the chlorine
process. There is a slipper establishment with accommodation
for 16 males and 4 females. Adjacent to the bath is a
mechanical laundry which launders on behalf of various
undertakings in the locality and which include the Corporation's
Catering Dept., Works Dept., the County Health and
Education Depts., and the Hainault Maternity Home.
During the year, 77,832 articles were dealt with.