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104
Possible Establishment of Smokeless Zones in Leyton—Factors to be
Considered.
Sources of Atmospheric Pollution.
Since Leyton is one small unit in a large belt of smokeproducing
Boroughs, it is necessary to consider the sources of
atmospheric pollution in relation to the Greater London area as a
whole. The main sources of pollution are :—
(a) Old-fashioned domestic open-fire grates burning ordinary
solid fuel.
(b) Modern domestic open-fire grates burning bituminous coal
instead of the smokeless fuel for which they were designed—
due to scarcity of supplies and cost of smokeless fuel.
(c) Smaller industrial boilers and furnaces burning raw coal.
(d) Steam railway locomotives.
(e) Sea-going ships and coastal vessels using the River Thames
and docks.
Town Planning.
The Borough's future planning and redevelopment proposals
must figure prominently in the selection of any area as a proposed
smokeless zone, having regard to heavy expenditure likely to be
incurred by the Council and/or the owners in converting existing
appliances.
The geographical layout of Leyton differs very considerably
from that of the cities of Coventry and Manchester, where such
zones have been established, in that there is no central area
predominantly commercial—offices, shops and places of entertainment.
Unlike Coventry, Leyton contains no blitzed vacant sites
suitable for large-scale replanning and rebuilding without considerable
interference with and demolition of existing premises.
Smokeless zones are likely to be of little value unless, sooner or
later, they are able to expand. This would involve liaison with
neighbouring Boroughs, and reference to the County of London
development plan. Without room for expansion a smokeless zone
in Leyton would be no more than a small smokeless island surrounded
by a permanent sea of smoke ; and, since the smoke-polluted
atmosphere of Greater London is not likely to respect our boundaries,
little (if any) material advantage would be gained. The situation is
rendered more complicated by reason of the fact that it would be
difficult, if not impossible, to control smoke from steam railway
locomotives passing through Leyton.