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34.
by the Public Health Inspectors to both management and stokers and others
in an effort to raise the efficiency of plants and prevent atmospheric
pollution.
A matter of concern to the Public Health Department has been the
amount of atmospheric pollution created by smoke from the chimney stack of
the central boiler house of the L.C.C. Cranston Estate. This boiler house
consists of four furnaces with underfeed stokers. A very full investigation
throughout the year has proved successful in diagnosing the loss of
efficiency in the furnaces and the cause of the resultant atmospheric
pollution, viz :-
(a) Handymen employed as stokers with a very limited or no knowledge
of the principles of efficient combustion, and
(b) the failure of the automatic plant to provide the correct
proportion of air and fuel during automatic shut-down and periods
of clinkering.
Proposals have been made to the Chief Engineer of the London County Council
and it is hoped that the efficiency of this boiler house may be raised
and prevent emissions of dark smoke.
Improvement at Whiston Road Power Station.
During the year a great deal of unnecessary atmospheric pollution has
been emitted from the main chimney stack of the Whiston Road Power Station.
Many visits and observations were me.de and with the co-operation of the
Chief Engineer of the station and the London Electricity Board a very
definite improvement has resulted during this year. Advice given by the
Public Health Inspectors has been readily accepted concerning the operation,
repair end improvement of the chain feed stokers. Unfortunately
instrumentation has not yet been provided in this boiler house. It is,
however, intended that every effort will be made to persuade the London
Electricity Board to provide instrumentation without delay, which, if
operated correctly would reduce stilj further atmospheric pollution.
Proposed Smoke Control Areas.
During the year the Council decided in principle to put forward
proposals for a Smoke Control Area to the Ministry. It was decided that
a pilot scheme be introduced incorporating the Colville Estate consisting
of 308 flats, 13 commercial buildings, 2 factories and 3 private dwellings.
This is an area of approximately 9 acres bounded on the north by the Grand
Union Canal, on the east by Whitmore Road and on the South by Hyde Road.
In accordance with the Clean Air Act the necessary preliminary survey
of the area has been made and full information sent for the approval of
the Minister. In connection with this work a severe handicap was (a) that
sufficient supplies of approved type fuel would not be available and
(b) the limited fuel storage space in the flats that prevented fuel