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36
The Committee on air pollution, under the Chairmanship of
Sir Hugh Beaver, M.Inst.C.E., M.I.Chem.E., issued their very
comprehensive report with a summary of recommendations, which
aim at the reduction of the pollution of the atmosphere by smoke,
dust, grit and gases. It may well be that these suggestions will be
embodied in future legislation.
HEATING APPLIANCES (FIREGUARDS) ACT, 1952.
40 visits of inspection were made during the year and no
contraventions found.
This Act is designed to require fireguards to be fitted to gas
fires, electric fires and oil heaters of types so designed that they
are suitable for domestic use and so constructed that, without a
guard, there is likelihood of injury by burning or of ignition of
clothing by reason of contact with or proximity to the heating
element or flame.
The standards of construction and fitting of guards and the
tests to be employed in ascertaining whether guards comply with
prescribed standards are controlled by regulations.
SHOPS ACT, 1950.
256 visits of inspection were made by the Inspectors.
130 defects and contraventions were found, of which 61 had been
remedied by the end of the year.
The provisions of the Shops Act are designed to minimise, as
far as practicable, any conditions which would affect the health
of the shop assistants, and, as far as Bromley is concerned, the
infringements encountered have been of a minor character,
principally the omission of exhibiting the statutory forms.
WATER.
Six samples of drinking water were taken, to ascertain the
toxic metal content (zinc). In five samples zinc was not detected,
and in the sixth sample 0.08% was found.
I am indebted to the Clerk, and the Director of Water
Examination, of the Metropolitan Water Board, for the following
information on the supply of water to the Borough during the
year 1954 :—
" No new source of public water supply has been instituted in
the Council's area during 1954, and there have been no extensions
of trunk mains, but lengths of service mains have been laid within
the Borough. The supply generally has been satisfactory as
regards quantity. The higher level of the area is supplied from
Shortlands Well and by Thames-derived filtered water from Walton