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38
ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION
Smoke Control Areas
This has been a decisive year in this Council's Smoke Control
Programme.
The Shoreditch (Kingsland and Hoxton) Smoke Control Order was confirmed
on the 26th April, 1963 and became operative on the 1st November 1963.
An objection to this Order was lodged with' the Minister and concerned the price
of smokeless fuels but was later withdrawn when it became known that the
Council were equally concerned about this matter. I have written a separate
paragraph which sets out the Council's views and policies relating to the price
and availability of smokeless fuels.
The Shoreditch (Haggerston) Smoke Control Order was confirmed on
the 11th December 1963, and will become operative as from the 1st September
1964. This is in step with my previous report to you and it is expected to
complete the Smoke Control Programme by 1965.
Details of the numbers of applications received this year for
adaptations and replacement of fireplaces together with the number of conversions
completed are given below:-
808 applications approved in respect of 908 fireplaces.
Number of conversions completed 402.
Two thirds of the Borough is now covered by operative smoke control
areas and the attitude of the occupiers is very encouraging and keener
appreciation, of clean air is now much more frequently expressed. Again I have
to report that the only complaints are with regard to the availability and the
price of the premium smokeless fuels.
Winter Conditions
The months of January and February this year will readily be
remembered for their abnormally severe weather conditions. The scarcity of
solid fuel and the difficulty in securing its distribution then became apparent
and early in February 840 questionnaires were delivered to homes in the
Pitfield and Wenlock Smoke Control'Areas to find out the difficulties being
experienced,, Some 341 replies were completed and'returned and of this number
119 occupiers were using electricity, gas or oil leaving 222 relying on solid,
fuel. The following information abstracted from the returns indicates some
essential factors governing the operation of Smoke Control Areas generally and
during the severe winter.