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including noisy dogs, noisy refrigerator, panel beating and industrial
noise. Informal action taken by the Inspectors resulted in the
noises ceasing or being reduced in extent.
Air Pollution
During the year under review, no contraventions of the Dark
Smoke (Permitted Periods) Regulations were observed on any of
the industrial premises in the Borough.
With regard to pollution from domestic premises, further
progress was made in the implementation of the Council's
programme in respect of Smoke Control Orders.
The Council's No. 4 Smoke Control Order carne into operation
on 1st October. The area covered was 4417 acres containing 1,674
dwellings, 5 industrial premises, 75 commercial and 11 other
premises, and extended the area already covered by the Council's
Nos. 1, 2 and 3 Orders. In this connection, as in previous years,
much time and considerable effort were entailed during the greater
part of the year in dealing with numerous applications from residents
for financial grants under the Clean Air Act, 1956, towards the
conversion or adaptation of their fireplaces to enable them to avoid
contravening the Order by emitting smoke from their premises.
All applications were examined individually, advice given to
applicants on their choice of fuel appliance, information as to the
amount of grant to which they were entitled, and in each case the
conversions and adaptations inspected to ensure that they were
carried out to the satisfaction of the Council.
A further step in the implementation of the Council's
programme was the preliminary work done in the early part of the
year in respect of the Council's No. 5 Smoke Control Order. This
culminated in June in the submission of the requisite information
by the Council to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government
for confirmation of the Order. The Minister's confirmation was
received on 2ilSt September. Between this date and the end of the
year, many residents took advantage of the relatively mild winter
and following submission of and approval to their applications for
grant aid, put in hand the work of converting or adapting their
fireplaces to enable them to conform to the Order. The date of
operation of the Order is fixed at 1st November, 1965.
The smoothness With which the Council's programme for
Smoke Control Areas has progressed in the years 1959-1964, is due,
in my View, largely to realisation on the part of residents that the
reduction of atmospheric pollution in the Borough is a worth-while
public health measure. Also, I feel, it is due in no small degree to
the efficiency with which the work has been carried through by
the staff generally and in particular by Mr. R. L. Burkill, Deputy
Chief Public Health Inspector.
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