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18
At the end of the year the Area had been submitted to the Minister
for confirmation.
A postal survey will initially be made of the next Area and an
assessment made of how far this method of surveying might prove to
be one of choice.
The general implications of our smoke control programme were
dealt with in the preamble of this report and need not be dwelt upon
at much greater length. I ought, however, to repeat that the work
associated with a smoke control area, i.e. the detailed survey of all the
buildings in the area, the assessment of the results obtained, the full
enquiry into difficulties and unusual circumstances emerging from the
survey, the initial and continuing publicity given to our proposals, the
assessment of and decision upon grant applications, the further visiting
to ensure that the necessary work and only the necessary work approved
has been duly carried out, the ironing out of such fuel supply difficulties
as arise (it must be said that these so far have been few in number),
the preparation of future phasing of our programme and, last but not
least, general observation to ensure that due compliance is being made
with the terms of Orders already operative- these points give some
indication of the amount of work involved on the part of my staff.
These tasks are, however, inseparable from any active smoke control
programme and their weight will only be lightened when the District
finally becomes smoke free.
In the ultimate the speed with which an area comes into operation
and hence the phasing of our complete programme is dependent upon
Ministerial sanction so that whatever speed may be theoretically possible
locally in practice the ultimate control will not rest with this Council.
Discussion with Neighbouring Authorities:
Our liaison continues with Romford and Dagenham but no specific
lines of mutual progress emerged during the year.
Specific Complaints:
As noted last year various complaints of smoke fumes or dust
from factory or hospital chimneys were received during the year.
It should be emphasised that special processes do not fall within
the control of your Public Health Department but come within the field
of action of the Alkali Inspector. It is, therefore, essential that a close
liaison should exist with that officer and this in fact is the case in
Hornchurch.
A local Association raised some particularly pertinent questions
during the year and in fact arranged a meeting with the Alkali Inspector