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ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION
The instruments set up at five sites for the recording of Atmospheric Pollution continued
to function throughout the year and it is pleasing to note that during 1957 the highest amounts
of deposit recorded on every site were considerably below the highest amounts recorded
during the previous year. Taking the year as a whole, the greatest improvement was found
at the Hortus Cemetery site, but there was a definite reduction on the Railway Allotments
site, which had been the source of trouble for some years. During the year a considerable
planting of young Poplar trees was made on the edge of the Railway property in order to
provide a preventive screen in the future for the houses which were most severely affected
by smoke and grit from the railway sidings.
The results obtained from the five sites, i.e., Recreation Ground and Railway Allotments,
lead peroxide method; Hortus Cemetery, New Primary School, Railway Allotments, deposit
gauges; are tabulated on page 41 and graphs prepared from the figures on the tables are to
be found on pages 42-44.
Comparisons with three other places, i.e. Westminster, Cambridge and Sheffield, show
that while Southall has to improve a good deal before it can be classified as atmospherically
even moderately pure, the figures are lower than an industrial area and in the centre of London,
although in Westminster a smoke control area is already established.
Work was carried out during the year on various sections of the Clean Air Act, 1956,
and the Council gave consideration to the possibility of declaring a smoke controlled area.
At the end of the year no decision had been reached as to the siting of this.
Observations on individual factory chimneys seeming to be emitting smoke or grit
to excess continued throughout the year, and while no major infringements requiring legal
action took place, various improvements were called for. It is likely that the continuing
work done in this respect has resulted in the improved figures shown overall in the table.
Comparison of seven years' averages at Hortus Cemetery.
Total solids Deposited:—
1951 12.95 1954 14.30
1952 11.93 1955 16.94
1953 10.67 1956 12.93
1957 10.66
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