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used as an illustration of the usefulness of voluntary co-operation between
the Council and its officers, e.g., Sanitary Inspectors and the Industrialists
together with the able assistance of officers from the recently disbanded
London Regional Fuel Advisory Office.
During the year the Committee on Air Pollution under the Chairmanship
of Sir Hugh Beaver, M.Inst.C.E.. M.I.Chem.E., made its Report. The
main recommendations of the Committee consist of: —
1. The emission of dark smoke from any chimney should be made
illegal.
2. Pulverised fuel plants burning 10 tons or more per hour should
be fitted with efficient grit and dust arresting appliances and the
owner or occupiers of premises containing such plant ought to
measure grit emission and inform Local Authority of the results
on request.
In the case of other solid fuel burning plants, all reasonable
practicable steps should be taken to prevent emission of grit and
dust.
3. Certain industrial processes in which the prevention of dark
smoke, grit and dust emission presents a special technical difficulty,
the supervision should be vested in the Alkali Works Act
Inspectors. (This is another method of removing some of the
duties from the purview of local authorities.)
4. Certain Private Act powers to regulate design of new industrial
furnaces should be made of general application. (See Section 95
Essex County Council Act, 1952).
5. Legislation relating to emission of smoke from railways and
pollution from spoilbanks should be brought up to date and
control of these vested in Local Autho ities.
6. That the appropriate Ministers have power to approve by Confirmed
Orders schemes submitted by Local Authorities to create
(1) smokeless zones prohibiting entirely the emission of smoke
from any chimney; (2) smoke control areas in which the use of
bituminous coal for domestic purposes would be restricted.
7. To empower the Treasury and Local Authorities to financially
assist house owners to convert appliances in these two special
areas.
8. Approved appliances only should be used for domestic heating.
9. Recommends the removal of the existing purchase tax on electric
room and water heaters.
10. Responsibility for the enforcement of legislation controlling smoke
and grit emission should vest in Local Authorities, subject to the
provision relating to special industrial processes as indicated in
note 3 above.
11. Reports on smoke abatement progress by Local Authorities to be
submitted to Minister annually.
12. Penalties for smoke offences ought to be increased.
It may be that the Government will implement these recommendations
by legislation in the near future.
Recruitment, Training and Qualification of Sanitary Inspectors.
As a result of the Report by the Working Party on this aspect of
Public Health work, the Council decided to implement the recommendation
for training of sanitary inspectors not by means of a paid pupillage
system but by offering clerkships in the Sanitary Section of the Public
Health Department to suitable candidates. Full facilities were to be
afforded these prospective inspectors to attend preliminary training in
building construction, office routine and practical and theoretical training
in the practice of sanitation in its broadest aspects. This system does not
entail a contract of service containing a term that the successful student
remains with the Borough Council should he be successful. As a result of
this policy two members of the staff are pursuing a course of studies with
a view of securing the statutory qualification as a Sanitary Inspector."