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32
Smoke Control Area.
The resolution of the Council to declare the Colville Estate and
adjoining factories and dwellings a Smoke Control Area was confirmed by the
Minister of Housing and Local Government on 21st October 1958, and will
become operative on 1st September 1959. Letters have been sent to the
occupiers of all premises in the area advising them of the implications of
the Order.
Abolition of hand-fired furnaces in Shoreditch Borough Council flats.
During the year, one of the significant features has been the abolition
of all hand-fired furnaces serving domestic hot water to local authority
flats. During the year 14 hand-fired furnaoes were converted to oil
firing. The result of these conversions means that there are now
41 oil-fired furnaces and 8 underfeed stokers servioing 123 blocks of
Council flats with domestic hot water.
The abolition of hand firing and the substitution of proper oil
burning equipment will do much to reduce atmospheric pollution, providing
that properly trained operators are employed who understand the plant and the
plant is well maintained to a high degree of efficiency.
Trend from solid fuel to oil.
The general trend from solid fuel to oil firing during the year is an
indication that apart from any economic factors involved, industrialists and
others are influenced by the requirements of the Clean Air Act, particularly
bearing in mind the possibility of the steady development of Smoke Control
Areas. All new factories in Shoreditch, completed during the year,
including several in course of construction, are equipped with oil fired
furnaces, the largest being Messrs. Waterlow's new premises in Worship
Street where oil fired sectional boilers have been installed. The new
Shoreditch Secondary School has also been equipped with oil fired boilers
fully instrumented. Both these plants are attended by properly trained
personnel and are producing excellent results.
The prevention of atmospheric pollution in existing premises.
During the year 412 smoke observations were made. 4 Notices were
served concerning smoke nuisance under the Clean Air Act. The growing
interest in the Clean Air Act has resulted in numerous enquiries for
advice in connection with many types of furnaces and frequent visits
have been made to premises by the Public Health Inspectors to give advice
to stokers and operators of plant. This has considerably increased the
work of the Department.