View report page

102
In investigating the bonfire complaints, advice was given to
householders and commercial concerns on the disposal of rubbish without
causing nuisance to neighbours. Several excessive smoke emissions from
factory chimneys were due to mechanical defects and maladjustments in
oil-fired boilers, which were quickly put right. Three complaints
related to acid smuts from a factory chimney and it was found on investigation
that the boiler was too large for the load placed upon it, giving
rise to condensation in the flue. Modifications were carried out and no
further complaints have been received. There were two complaints about the
Kingston Hospital chimney but dark smoke emissions have been rare.
Although the engineer is operating the obsolete plant at maximum
efficiency, breakdowns are still liable to occur. Preparatory work on the
new boiler house was commencedduring the year and the height and design
of the new chimney stack was finalised after wind tunnel tests.
Chimney Heights. Six plans were submitted for determination of
chimney heights under Section 10 of the Clean Air Act, 1956. In six further
cases advice was given where new chimneys, exempted from the provisions of
this section were about to be erected.
Recording of Air Pollution. Instruments for measuring the amount of
smoke and sulphur dioxide in the air are maintained at the Guildhall,
Tiffin Girls' School, Council Offices, New Maiden and Alpha Road Public
Health Depot. It was found necessary to discontinue readings at the
Kingston Vale site in May on account of the excessive travelling time
involved. The remaining four instruments operate continuously and readings
are taken five times a week. The figures are submitted monthly to the
Ministry of Technology's Warren Spring Laboratory, for inclusion in the
national survey of atmospheric pollution. The Maiden readings, which are
typical, are shown at Figs, 1 and 2 in graph form. It is noteworthy that
the highest winter readings are about ten times as great as the summer ones.
Since the power demands of factories do not vary a great deal over the
seasons, the increase in winter, apart from climatic conditions, must be
due to domestic smoke and emissions from commercial central heating plants.
Figure 3 compares the annual readings for the four sites and Figure 4 shows
the Guildhall annual readings for smoke and sulphur dioxide since 1958, as
compared with some London sites. The Guildhall readings have been used for
this comparison as the site has been in operation longer than the other three.
Deposit Gauges. In addition to the instruments previously referred to,
the Corporation maintains two deposit gauges which were located, after
consultation with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, in
Canbury Gardens and Tiffin Girls' School, Figure 5 shows the average
deposit at the two sites for the years 1950 to 1965.