View report page

standard instruments used by the Council for the measurement of air pollution
Samples of stonework collected locally which had suffered considerable damage
from atmospheric pollution were also on display.
The Centre was staffed by the Health Department from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.,
Monday to Saturday, for the period commencing 24th January until Friday, 25th
February. During this time 650 members of the public visited the Centre and
made enquiries on smokeless fuel and approved appliances.
Both the Solid Smokeless Fuels Federation and the Council considered that
the campaign was well worth-while, even allowing for the fact that at the time of
the Exhibition there was some of the worst weather experienced for some years,
which affected the size of audiences.
Smoke Abatement Exhibition, Autumn, 1955.
The Council's Smoke Abatement campaign was continued during the week
commencing 26th September with the autumn Smoke Abatement Exhibition at
the Town Hall, organised by the Health Department, which was opened by Sir
Hugh Beaver, Chairman of the recent Government Committee of Inquiry into Air
Pollution.
At the opening ceremony, in addition to Sir Hugh, the Mayor had the support
of the Chairman of the Health Committee and other members of the Council.
Numerous enquiries were received during the week from persons wishing to
fit approved domestic appliances and these were dealt with by experts of the Solid
Smokeless Fuels Federation, and the Gas Board and the Electricity Board, who
supported the Health Department as exhibitors. Questions on particular fuel
problems were also dealt with. The Housing Department also gave valuable support,
a feature of their stand being scale models of typical Borough Council houses and
the types of grates used therein. The National Smoke Abatement Society exhibit
also attracted attention.
On the Health Department stand a wide range of industrial smoke prevention
equipment had been installed, together with the latest measuring instruments in
use by the Fuel Research Station.
A number of guided parties representing local organisations and schools attended
the Exhibition during the week.
A feature of the week was a successful poster competition arranged by the
Department. Local schools were invited to participate and 48 entries were received.
The posters were of a high standard and were judged in their age groups of 12 years,
13 years and 14 years ; the six winners each receiving book tokens to the value
of one-and-a-half guineas.
The opening of the Exhibition had been preceded by an intensive advertising
campaign, some 18,000 leaflets being distributed in the Borough by means of houseto-house
delivery, via public offices, local organisations and shop-keepers. Slides
were shown at three Eltham Cinemas during the week prior to the Exhibition, and
the staff of one of the local cinemas distributed leaflets. An advertising banner
was hung in Powis Street, and details of the Exhibition were sent to local organisations
and to factory managements.
The Exhibitors received numerous enquiries from members of the public
interested. In this respect, as the Exhibition had as its aim helping to make
Woolwich more Smoke Abatement conscious and increasing the interest of householders,
local property owners and factory management in this work, it no doubt
achieved its purpose.
Leaflets and Literature.
During the Council's smoke abatement campaign, thousands of leaflets dealing
with the subject were distributed in all parts of the Borough, and on the occasion
of the visit of the Mobile Exhibition to various parts of the Borough numerous
invitation cards were distributed to houses in the vicinity of each meeting place.
Again, during the Smoke Exhibition at the Town Hall, thousands of leaflets and
pamphlets calling attention to the benefits to be derived from the use of smokeless
fuels and the installation of approved appliances were distributed.
28