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32.
Estimated cost - No. 2 Smoke Control Area

The survey of the remaining areas continued during the year and by the
end of the year the preliminary survey of the whole Borough was well under
way and arrangements were being made to submit a recommendation to the Public
Health Committee that No. 2 Area be approved in principle as a Smoke Control
Area.
Mechanical Stokers in Smoke Control Areas
The Smoke Control Areas (Exempted Fireplaces) Order 1959» which became
operative during the year, exempts mechanical stokers from smoke control area
orders in the following teimst "Fireplaces, other than fireplaces fired by
pulverized fuel, constructed on or after the Jlst day of December 1956, and
equipped with mechanical stokers, or adapted on or after that date for use
with such stokers, on condition that "the fireplace shall be so installed,
maintained and operated as to minimize the emission of smoke. No fuel shall
be used other than that for which the mechanical stoker was designed". This
Order is applicable insofar as Shoreditch is concerned with regard to the
boiler houses at Clinger Court, Bletchley Court and the London County Council
Cranston Estate where underfeed mechanical stokers are operating.
The disposal of wood waste in Smoke Control Areas
A high percentage of atmospheric pollution in Shoreditch is due to the
burning of sawdust and other wood wastes in numerous small furniture and other
woodworking factories. Many of these possess open fireplaces, some slow
combustion stoves, totally unsuitable for this purpose. Experience has shown
that this practice serves a dual purpose - (a) to produce heating to the
factory, heat glue pots etc. and (b) to dispose of wood wastes. Heating of
course can be produced by other means such as gas, electricity and oil and
smokeless fuel - and the wood wastes could be carted away either by the local
authority at a reasonable charge as trade refuse or by private contractor.
This economic factor is a real factor and a major problem in Shoreditch, but
there can be no doubt that as Smoke Control Orders are confirmed it will have
to be faced up to by the owners and occupiers of woodworking factories. In
order to comply with the requirements of any confirmed Smoke Control Orders,
the burning of wood wastes in the manner described above will have to cease