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30
Ministry of Housing and Local Government Circular 64/56 advised
Local Authorities that the Minister intended at a later date to
make an Order fixing a date in the early part of 1958 as the
appointed day for the remaining provisions of the Act.
A conference was held under the auspices of the Thames-Side
Joint Committee for the Abatement of Atmospheric Pollution at
which sixteen Councils were represented by their officers when the
matter was fully discussed and it was agreed that each Authority
proceed on its own with such consultation with neighbouring
Authorities as they deemed necessary.
A report was submitted to the Public Health Committee and
as a result the Town Planning Committee recommended to the
Council the implementation of the provisions of the Clean Air Act
amending Series 4 of the Building Bye-Laws so as to require the
provision in new buildings of such arrangements for heating or
cooking as are calculated to prevent so far as practicable the
emission of smoke.
The district, which is well provided with parks and recreation
grounds and has many open spaces, is not subject to heavy smoke
pollution, and this applies particularly to the southern part of the
area which is rural in character. There are many light industries
in the northern part of the district, mainly in a small area at
St. Mary Cray, and these industrial premises have been under
frequent observation by the Public Health Inspectors during the
year.
There are two sites in the district at which instruments are
sited. At the Police Station, St. Mary Cray, there is a deposit
gauge for the measurement of solid matter suspended in the
atmosphere and at Barn Hawe, Orpington, there is a Lead Peroxide
cylinder, by means of which the average concentration of sulphur
dioxide within the district is determined. These instruments are
maintained in co-operation with the Fuel Research Station at
Greenwich (acting under the Department of Scientific and Industrial
Research), and at monthly intervals samples are analysed by the
Council's Analyst and forwarded to them. Many districts throughout
the country are undertaking this work and the information is
most valuable to the Department of Scientific and Industrial
Research for research purposes.
The Council is represented by the Chairman of the Public
Health Committee and the Chief Public Health Inspector on the
London and Home Counties Smoke Abatement Advisory Council,
The National Smoke Abatement Society and the Standing
Conference of Local Authorities which co-operate with the
Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.