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117
Only one hand-fired coal burning boiler remains and, although wood
waste is used as an additional fuel, by careful stoking this plant rarely gives
cause for complaint. In the case of another large coal burning plant, which
for some years has been troublesome in respect of smoke emission, an
assurance has been obtained that during 1969 the plant will be completely
renewed.
Smoke from Domestic Chimneys
The amount of pollution from domestic sources continued to fall.
In fact it has done so year by year since the Clean Air Act, 1956 brought
Smoke Control Areas/ Orders into being.
The general desire of the public for more efficient forms of home
heating has also been of tremendous help, as the various appliances
involved are invariably smokeless in operation, using either electricity, gas,
oil or a solid smokeless fuel.
Smoke from Rubbish Burning
The reduction in the amount of smoke from industrial boiler plants
and domestic fires has made more obvious the smoke which is produced
from the burning of rubbish and, while incineration is probably the best
way to deal with unwanted waste material, either thoughtlessness on the
part of persons disposing of rubbish or their complete disregard for the
feelings of neighbours is often the cause of considerable annoyance and
inconvenience.
Shopkeepers and tradesmen, too, who have bonfires in small yards
can also cause annoyance to persons occupying adjoining premises, though
in their case, it must not be overlooked that the disposal of trade waste
often presents a trader with problems. The only answer to the trade waste
issue, apart from removal from the premises, is the use of carefully sited
purpose-made incinerators and more and more of these appliances are now
being installed.
Garden bonfires, too, often give rise to complaints. Here again, a
little thought could obviate much of the trouble as most garden refuse and
kitchen waste can be composted to provide a very useful garden material,
while even in quite small gardens a suitable site for a compost heap can
nearly always be found.
FOOD HYGIENE
Throughout the year inspections were made of premises where food
was prepared, manufactured or retailed and, with comparatively few
exceptions, it was found that satisfactory standards were being maintained.
The trend towards the large self-service type of store continued and
two new centres of this kind opened during the year. At these, and in fact
at all grocers shops, little unwrapped food is handled and such hygiene
problems as exist are associated more with the store and stock rooms and
stock rotation than with the foodstuff itself.