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appliances will require adaptation.
It is anticipated that the Order will come into operation
on 1st December, 1962.
General
At the end of the year there were 986 acres and 9,223
dwellings within operative Smoke Control Areas, and a further
1,602 acres and 9,650 dwellings within Areas being brought
into operation. Details of the size, and number of properties
in the aforementioned Areas, together with the proposed new
Areas, are set out in Table No.14 and the accompanying map.
Although the Council stresses at every opportunity the
advantages to be gained from the installation of approved
continuous burning open fires complete with permanent gas
ignition, many owner/occupiers have not carried out conversions
and, therefore, propose to rely upon the use of the proprietary
smokeless fuels in their existing appliances. In such cases
a simple declaration is signed by the owner/occupiers stating
that they are aware of the difficulties which they may encounter
in the future.
The original estimates of cost for each Area are based
upon a 100% conversion rate. However, it has been found that
the final costs, particularly in the case of owner/occupied
property, have been much reduced.
During the year, after enquiry of other London Boroughs,
the Council accepted the Ministry's suggestion of a £5. limit
for grant aid on a continuous burning appliance.
When the Council's Smoke Control activities first commenced,
the majority of conversions were undertaken by one large
contractor. Whilst the contractor made strenuous efforts to
complete the work before the operative date of the Order,
considerable delays occurred. During the year several more
contractors began to undertake the work and the delay has
considerably lessened.
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