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wards, and Copers Cope ward, were confirmed by the Minister of
Housing and Local Government but the operative date was postponed
by the Minister from 1st December, 1970, to 1st July, 1971,
because no assurance could be given by the fuel suppliers that
adequate supplies of smokeless fuel would be available during the
1970/71 winter.
Two local residents lodged objections to the confirmation of
Smoke Control Order No. 12 which covers Copers Cope ward,
with the result that the Minister caused a local hearing to be held
at Bromley Town Hall. The Minister, however, over-ruled the
objection and as stated the Order was confirmed. When these
Orders become operative on 1st July, 1971, a further 8,970 premises
and 2,634 acres will have been brought under smoke control.
Towards the end of 1970 the Minister of Housing and Local
Government requested all authorities in the London area to suspend
the operation of some of their smoke control orders in order
to ease the position concerning the non-availability of solid smokeless
fuel. The Council decided to suspend nine of its smoke control
orders in order to permit the burning of coal when supplies of
smokeless fuel were exhausted. Approximately 37 per cent of the
premises under smoke control are affected by the suspension orders
which operate until 31st March, 1971. At the time of writing the
daily measurement of smoke and sulphur dioxide which are made
within the borough have not indicated any marked increases in
pollution as a result of the suspension orders permitting the use of
coal nor have there been complaints about fuel not being available.
The preliminary survey of three further smoke control areas
which will be established in due course in Bickley ward, Manor
House ward and the remaining part of Famborough were completed
with a view to orders being made by the Council for submission
to the Minister.
Under the provisions of the Clean Air Act, 1969, applications
were received for the approval of the proposed height of chimneys
to be erected in connection with new plants, or the alteration of
existing plants. The applications related mainly to the chimneys
of oil fired boiler plants at schools, institutional premises and
industrial premises. Following some requested modifications all
the proposals were approved.
The instruments for determining the concentration in the
atmosphere of the two main pollutants, i.e. smoke and sulphur
dioxide continue to be maintained by the Public Health Inspectorate
and the recorded measurements are forwarded monthly to the
Ministry of Technology (Warren Springs Laboratory).
Twelve premises within the Borough are licenced by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government for the storage and use of radio-active materials.