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determined, which include the following :—Prohibition of dark smoke
from chimneys; Grit and dust from furnaces; Abatement of smoke
nuisances other than smoke from a private dwelling and other than
dark smoke which is dealt with under Section 1 of the Act; Prohibition
of dark smoke from railway engines and vessels (ships).
Section 3 requires all new furnaces (except furnaces of domestic
boilers with a maximum heating capacity of less than fifty-five
thousand British Thermal Units per hour) to be capable of being
operated continuously without emitting smoke when burning fuel of
a type for which they were designed and persons proposing to install
new furnaces must give notice of intention to the local authority. It
is not necessary to submit plans or specifications when giving notice
but a person proposing to install a new furnace may do so and if the
plans and specifications are approved by the local authority the
furnace is deemed to comply with the requirements of Section 3(1)
of the Act. It does not, however, give exemption from proceedings
for a contravention of any other part of the Act.
Section 10 empowers local authorities to reject plans of new
buildings (other than residences, shops or offices) unless they are
satisfied that the height of any chimney shown on the plans will be
sufficient to prevent, so far as practicable, the smoke, grit, dust or
gases from becoming prejudicial to health or a nuisance having
regard to (a) the purpose of the chimney; (b) the position and
description of buildings near thereto; (c) the levels of neighbouring
ground; and (d) any other matters requiring consideration in the
circumstances. The section does not, however, apply to the erection
or extension of a generating station as defined in the Electricity
(Supply) Act, 1919, other than a private generating station as so
defined.
Section 17 provides that virtually all forms of air pollution from
premises controlled under the Alkali, etc., Works Regulation Act,
1906, will be subject to control under that Act by the Alkali
Inspectorate appointed by the Minister of Housing and Local Government.
Local authorities can, however, take proceedings for certain
offences but only with the consent of the Minister. In addition, the
Minister may, on the application of a local authority, make an order
removing the whole or part of any premises controlled under the
Alkali Act from the ambit of Section 17(1) if he is satisfied in all
the circumstances it is expedient so to do. This in effect would
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