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133
Council had the year 1975 as the target date for bringing the whole
of the Borough under smoke control. Curtailment of the programme
during 1967 on economy grounds has had the effect of
deferring this date until 1976 and this will be achieved only if
present progress is maintained and there are no further "cutbacks".
Three technical assistants were appointed in the late
summer of 1967 to assist with the survey work, thus reducing the
amount of time which the public health inspectors had been
devoting to this work and enabling them to be employed on other
urgent duties.
At the commencement of 1967, sixteen smoke control areas
were in operation, covering a total area of some 4,778 acres and
containing approximately 23,601 premises. During the year the
Minister of Housing and Local Government confirmed three
Smoke Control Orders in respect of the following areas:—
Area No. Area Acreage Premises
4 Petts Wood Ward (part) 685 3,423
5 Martins Hill and Town Ward (part) 268 3,164
Plaistow and Sundridge Ward (part)
6 Anerley Ward 346 2,436
The three Orders became operative on 1st December, thus at
the end of the year 6,077 acres of the Borough and 32,624 premises
were under smoke control.
2,477 applications for financial assistance under the Clean
Air Act were received from owners and occupiers of houses in the
three areas towards the cost of adapting or replacing fireplaces in
order to comply with the Orders. The preliminary surveys of the
areas indicated that approximately 5,363 dwellings would require
adaptation ranking for grant. It would appear, therefore, that
a large number of the residents are not applying for grants, or
are carrying out work such as the installation of electric radiant
fires which at present do not rank for grant.
The surveys in Petts Wood Ward and Plaistow and Sundridge
Ward of further areas, which it is anticipated will be brought
under smoke control in 1968, were completed during the year.
No particular problems have been encountered during the
year in connection with smoke control areas. Financial assistance
under the Clean Air Act is considered to be reasonably generous
and residents are given the choice of converting to solid smokeless
fuel, gas or oil fired appliances. Electric storage radiators
using off-peak electricity also rank for grant but not electric convector
or radiant fires. Supplies of fuel have been adequate and
no shortages have been reported. Fuel merchants have cooperated
well with the Health and Welfare Department to ensure
that only smokeless fuels are delivered in the controlled areas.