View report page

122
Approximately 1,446 grants under the Clean Air Act were
made to owners and occupiers in the three areas towards the cost
of adapting or replacing coal-burning heating appliances in order
to comply with the Orders. As was the case in areas previously
brought under smoke control, many householders failed to avail
themselves of the financial assistance to which they were
entitled.
During the year the Ministry authorised local authorities to
pay grant in respect of electric radiant fires. Previously the only
electric appliances attracting grant aid were thermal storage
heaters using off-peak electricity. Decline in the popularity of solid
fuel appliances continues and is indicated by the fact that in one
of the areas brought under smoke control 70% of the new
appliances installed were either gas or electric heaters.
No contraventions of the Smoke Control Orders were
reported or detected during the year.
A tmospheric Pollution
The popularity of the coin-operated launderette and dry
cleaner is increasing and a large number of these premises are
to be found within the borough. The insistence by the Public
Health Inspectorate that an efficient system of mechanical ventilation
be provided, with the exhaust outlet discharging wherever
practicable at high level, has prevented nuisance arising from
fumes and vapours from the cleaning agents.
The failure of architects in the construction of new commercial
buildings to provide chimney flues and suitable ducts for
exhaust pipes in the structure of the buildings has created problems
in regard to the discharge of combustion gases from oil-fired
boiler plants and fumes from dry cleaning establishments, and
restaurant kitchens, etc., located on the ground floor. The erection
of unsightly steel stacks on the exterior face of the building in
order to discharge the exhaust gases at high level is frequently
the only solution.
The four instruments set up at selected sites within the
borough to measure the concentration of smoke and sulphur
dioxide in the atmosphere continues to be maintained by the
Public Health Inspectorate and the recorded measurements are
forwarded each month to the Warren Springs Laboratory.
A survey was carried out during the year to measure the
fall-out of grit in a particular part of the borough following complaints
from residents of nuisance from deposited grit.
Notifications under the Clean Air Act of proposals to install
new furnaces were received by the Department during the year
and a number of applications for approval to the height of new
chimneys were dealt with. The new furnaces and chimneys were
mainly in connection with oil-fired central heating boiler plant.