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members of the staff of the Public Health Department would be calling
on them. In general, the Inspectors were very well received. From December,
1959 to May, 1960 2,840 visits (including some in the evening)
were made and some 5,000 appliances were examined. On the results of
their visits an estimate was arrived at of the cost of replacing existing
coal burning appliances with those capable of burning smokeless fuels.
The cost was estimated to be some £40,000, of which the cost to the
Council would be £12,000. These figures were based on the costs the
Council approved for certain appliances and work. About these the
Council decided :
(1) that a sum not exceeding £4 12s. 6d. (plus £1 17s. 6d. fitting
charge) be agreed as the approved sum for grant purposes in
respect of the installations of an approved solid fuel appliance
where a gas point is adjacent to the hearth.
(2) that a sum not exceeding £6 10s. Od. be approved for grant
purposes in respect of the provision and fitting of a gas or
electric fire as preferred by the occupier.
(3) that a charge not exceeding 5/- per foot run be approved for
grant purposes in respect of the running of gas or electric
services.
(4) that no gas poker for boiler ignition be accepted for grant
purposes.
(5) that in certain circumstances the cost of the replacement of onepiece
firebrick backs by multipiece firebacks be accepted for
grant purposes, the estimate for this to be examined before any
work is commenced.
(6) that is respect of the adaptations and alterations mentioned in (1)
to (5) above, the Council will consider representations made to
them where special circumstances or hardship are involved.
At their meeting in July, the Council adopted the following resolution
of the Public Health Committee—"That the Council make an Order, the
Borough of Harrow Smoke Control (No. 1) Order, 1960 declaring an area
of approximately 225 acres in South Harrow comprising 2,179 dwellings
and various other buildings to be a Smoke Control Area." The Town
Clerk was instructed to submit application to the Minister of Housing
and Local Government for confirmation of the Order, such order when
confirmed not to come into operation before September 1st, 1961, or
before a later date as determined by the Minister. Publicity was given to
the proposed Order for six weeks from August 11th.
In October, the Minister was told that the statutory procedure as
required under the Clean Air Act had been complied with and that no
written objections from any residents of the proposed area had been
received by the Town Clerk.