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15
Routine observations, now in their 12th year—through Deposit
Gauges, Lead Peroxide Candles and our Volumetric S02 apparatus—
propaganda, investigation of specific complaints of pollution and
attendance at meetings of outside bodies concerned with pollution
problems, occupy cumulatively a great deal of time. They nevertheless
serve to provide a complete picture as well as throwing considerable
light on how to secure it.
Smoke Control Areas:
Our first area in Cranham came into force on 1st September, 1959.
It comprised 239 houses, i.e., 224 Council houses, 11 privately owned
and 4 Police houses. The Council houses comprise 3-bedroom Cornish
Unit and 3-bedroom semi-detached and maisonettes. The area is
bounded by Front Lane, Brunswick Avenue and Roseberry Gardens
and has an acreage of 34.8.
The reasons for choosing this area were given in my 1958 report
and need not be recapitulated. It is clear that a relatively negligible
number of private houses were involved and the grants approved will
therefore be of a minor financial order.
Preliminary propaganda brought our intentions to the notice of
residents long before the operative date, but a public meeting was
nevertheless held adjacent to the area and open to any interested party.
In the event more officials than members of the public attended but
this clearly indicated the absence of dissatisfaction at our choice of
area.
No complaints of working difficulties had been received by the end of
the year and the only—and natural—reaction elicited from time to time
was a feeling that the smokeless air programme having started in part
of Cranham should rapidly be extended to the district as a whole.
Hornchurch is not a black area as envisaged in Ministry of Housing
and Local Government Circular 5/59 but the need to clear the air is
imperative even when domestic smoke is the major pollutant.
May I in this connection once again repeat that apart from gas.
electricity and oil, the solid fuel future in securing smokeless air rests
principally with coke and not with the many proprietary fuels of the
same general type. The merits of one or the other need not be discussed
here, the main point is that coke will be the most readily available for
some time to come.
Future Areas:
The area bounded by Ford Lane, Wood Lane, South End Road
and Rainham Road, was tentatively selected as our second venture and
—after due enquiry—was submitted to the Minister in mid-year for his
preliminary approval.