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The emission of toxic and other types of fumes from
industrial premises is a problem with no easy solution. In
many instances the Public Health Act is of little value because
of the difficulty of assessing the extent of a nuisance
on a particular occasion, that the emission is injurious to
health, or that a specific plant is responsible. Furthermore,
the provisions of the Clean Air Act and the Alkali Act being
limited in their application, it has been found that control is
likely to be best achieved by refusal of planning permission,
or by imposing appropriate conditions on certain manufacturing
processes.
(D) During the period under review the 44 feet high coal
grading screen at the local coal wharf was dismantled and
removed from the site. It was from the top of this shaker
screen that the emission of coal dust was extremely difficult
to control without resorting to elaborate precautionary
measures, and now resulting from the cessation of high
altitude screening, the uniform height of all hoppers on the
wharf is 22 feet.
(E) Continuous oil fired kilns are gradually replacing the
intermittent type at a local clay industry premises, and this
is resulting in a great reduction of smoke production. At
this site also, hand firing boiler plant has been superseded
by oil combustion.
(F) The substitution of aero paint sprays by electrostatic
sprays (Ransburg process) has resulted in a considerable
reduction of fumes being emitted from a local factory.
(G) During the year a Pratt Daniel dust arrester was adjusted
and its water circuit was improved at a foundry.
D(5)f The Clean Air Act 1956
No. 1 Smoke Control Area which comprises the whole
of the Bostall Ward is an area of some 390 acres in which
are situated the following buildings:—
3,234 dwellings,
32 shops,
4 places of worship,
1 public library,
1 public house,
1 convent school,
1 County Council school.
The provisional plan received Ministerial approval on
12th November, 1959, subsequent to which a house-to-house
inspection has been made throughout the area, and the requisite
information collated. At the end of the year, 196
premises were yet to be inspected, and on the completion of
the inspections, all the acquired data will be analyse so
that the total cost of the scheme can be ascertained.