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as a Public Health Authority was paramount. The officers of the Board acknowledged that
consequent upon the introduction of a new form of coke manufacture at the Lea Bridge
works in October, 1956, there had been cause for complaint, they were aware that these
complaints continued, and conceded that to a degree they had been justified. They
claimed, however, that remedial steps had been, and were being taken, steps which had
resulted in a considerable arrestment of the emission of dust and grit, and expressed
a confident opinion that within the next twelve months the problems with which they
were faced would be overcome. It was also agreed that a survey for the measurement of
grit and dust should be carried out by the Council in co-operation with the North Thames
Gas Board in the vicinity of the Lea Bridge Gas Works.
The Board's extensive programme of improvements in processing, stocking and handling
of coke has continued. The works carried out have been mainly concerned with reconstructing,
enlarging and enclosing the coke-grading plant, and special attention has
been given to dust suppression during loading operations. Stock-piling of "Clean-Glow"
fuel has been reduced to a minimum and is now confined to the land recently exchanged
with the Council. The land adjoining Clementina Road is no longer used for this purpose,
or for the storage of "bog ore" oxides; stock-piles of this material are being kept at
the Board's works at Becton.
In the main coke is loaded direct from storage hoppers into bags or by bulk into
lorries and railway wagons. A new chemical jet system has been installed which enables
dust-suppressing liquid to be sprayed wherever dust is likely to be created on the
coke conveyor and at bag and bulk loading points. This system uses a special surface
active chemical agent which, when diluted in water, results in a solution that has
greatly increased wetting, penetrating and spreading powers, and so is extremely
effective in contacting, confining and agglomerating dust. This system originated in
America, and is comparatively new to this country.
Air ducts fitted with fans for dust extraction have also been installed on the
main processing plant where coke is discharged from the base of retorts and at other
points on the conveyor belt and night storage hopper, chemical dust-suppressing liquid
is not practicable for use on this part of the plant because of the high temperature
of the coke. The measures taken have undoubtedly resulted in considerable improvement
in the works generally and in the amenities locally.
The arrangements made in conjunction with officers of the Gas Board and the Central
Electricity Generating Board to carry out a survey for the scientific measurement of
grit and dust deposited in the vicinity of the works comprised the setting up of six
standard deposit gauges at the following sites:-
Gauge Site Authority
No. 2 London Co-operative society, C.E.Generating Board
Markhouse Corner, E.10.
No. 3 Metropolitan Water Board Works, " " "
Lea Bridge Road, E.10.
No. 4 107 Clementina Road, E.10. North Thames Gas Board
No. 5 Lea Bridge Gas Works. E.10. Leyton Borough council
No. 6 107 Clementina Road, E.10. " " "
No. 7 Transformer chamber adjoining " " "
"Hare & Hounds" Lea Bridge Rd.,
E. 10.
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