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consideration to the possibility of joint action in regard to any proposals for the
creation of smoke control areas which might involve more than one authority.
The Committee also had in mind a suggestion made by the Minister of Housing and
Local Government in a memorandum on smoke control areas, in which he stated that it was
highly desirable that local authorities should keep one another informed about their
smoke control programmes and co ordinate as much as possible.
The first joint conference of local authorities was held at Leyton Town Hall in
October 1957 under the chairmanship of the then Mayor (Councillor Mrs. A. M. M. Burrell, J. P.).
It was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, the
London and Home Counties Clean Air Advisory Council, and the following local authorities
Barking. Dagenham, East Ham Hackney, Ilford Poplar Walthamstow Wanstead & Woodford.
West Ham and Woolwich.
Leyton is to be congratulated on initiating this joint Conference of Local Authorities;
since its inception meetings have been held at Barking, Wanstead & Woodford, and
Walthamstow. It has now become established as a forum for the exchange of information
between local authorities, each meeting provides an admirable opportunity for delegates
to discuss progress on smoke control schemes, procedural and economic difficulties,
availability of smokeless fuels, in fact all matters connected with the all important
question of clean air. Getting to know what one's neighbour is doing in this field is an
experience which is bound to have a salutory and beneficial effect; it promotes healthy
competition between neighbouring Councils who are apt to vie with each other as to
progress made, it stimulates discussion and keeps alive interest, and may provide a
source of encouragement to those who in spite of economic difficulties and other obstacles
are determined to pursue a bold realistic policy towards the betterment of atmospheric
conditions. What perhaps is more important still, such experience may possibly awaken
the conscience of others who are not so minded and whose opinions on the subject lead
one to believe that they regard clean air not as ordinary air but as something which one
should expect to breathe only when on holiday.
In December of this year the Public Health Committee recommended the Council to
approve in principle the establishment of'a smoke control area. The Council accepted the
Committee's recommendations and the provisional plan and relevant documents were subsequently
submitted to the Minister of Housing and Local Government for his comments. The
proposed area covers approximately some 296 acres and some 1,500 dwellings (1,756 householders),
and 90 industrial/commercial premises will be affected. At the time of preparing
this report the Minister's approval of the Council's proposals had been received and the
Chief Public Health Inspector was authorized to proceed with the detailed survey of the
proposed area preparatory to the Council making a Smoke Control Order.
It is anticipated that two Public Health Inspectors will be employed full time on
this detailed survey for a period of 10 to 12 months, and as this is the beginning of
what is hoped to be a longterm programme which will ultimately bring the whole Borough
under smoke control it is reasonable to assume that two Public Health Inspectors will
be employed full time on this type of work for an indefinite period, possibly 20 years
or more.
Before a Smoke Control Order can become operative it will be necessary for stoolbottom
grates and other solid fuel appliances in premises where smokeless fuel cannot
be burned satisfactorily to be altered or replaced. In private dwellings the cost of
adaptations and incidental work will be borne by the national exchequer the local
authority and the owner/occupier in the following proportions
(a) the Exchequer contribution is 40% in all cases.
(b) the Borough Council's minimum contribution in the case of private
properties is 30% leaving the owner or occupier to bear 30%, they
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