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The plans for the establishment of a joint crematorium at the Eltham Cemetery
were approved in principle by the Ministry during the year. The establishment of
a crematorium was contemplated before the last war. Owing to restrictions on new
building, Government sanction to proceed with the scheme on a Joint Board basis
was not received until recently. The crematorium, which will be administered by
a joint Committee of the local authorities in the neighbourhood, will provide a
service for which there has long been a need in this area, the nearest crematorium
being at Honor Oak.
In 1954 the Council, without resort to legislation, inaugurated its first smokeless
area, and chose for this experiment the St. Mary's Redevelopment Area. The
Council decided to make it a Condition of Tenancy in all new lettings in this area
that no smoke shall be emitted from these dwellings, and a clause is being included
in the Conditions of Tenancy prohibiting the use of solid fuel, other than an
approved smokeless fuel, unless the tenant can show that supplies of such fuel are
not reasonably obtainable or can show other reasonable grounds for not using
smokeless fuel.
While this smokeless area relates at the present time to only a small part of
the Borough, it is hoped to extend the area as soon as possible, and also that as
many private householders as possible will burn only an approved smokeless fuel.
The Council's action in giving the lead in the prevention of smoke has been
welcomed by many, including a number of private property owners, who have
promised to co-operate wherever possible.
Some of the practical difficulties which were foreseen by the Council before
they inaugurated this smokeless area related to the availability of smokeless fuel,
the difficulty of ignition when using coke, and the extra storage space required for
smokeless fuel compared with that required for coal. The Council were assured
that sufficient supplies of coke would be available. The difficulty regarding storage
space is being overcome by the more frequent deliveries of coke by means of a
weekly or fortnightly trolley service, and the ignition problem is being met in
Council accommodation by the fixing of gas ignition at the hearth.
Coinciding with the Council's decision to establish the first smokeless area,
the Health Department at the end of 1954 undertook a smoke prevention campaign.
It was early realised by the Council that the co-operation of the public was essential
to the success of any such scheme; without this support little could be achieved.
The propagation of information regarding the prevention of domestic smoke was
concentrated upon, as it is felt that it is here that smoke abatement propaganda
can do most good. In this respect the Council was helped considerably in that
their action coincided with the publication of the Government Committee of
Inquiry into Air Pollution (the Beaver Report) and the introduction into Parliament
of a Private Members' Bill to deal with the subject. Nevertheless, the example
set by Woolwich as being the first Metropolitan Borough to set up a smokeless
area attracted a good deal of interest, which was not confined to Woolwich alone.
The problem is to persuade more and more people to instal modern domestic grates
which burn approved smokeless fuel economically and cheerfully without polluting
the atmosphere.
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Of other activities being undertaken by the Council, not the least important
is the welfare of the elderly. This work assumes greater importance each year as
the number of elderly persons in the community increases. Details of the many
ways in which the voluntary and statutory bodies in the Borough are working for
the welfare of the old person are contained in the body of the Report.
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