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ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION
The amount of smoke, grit and sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere over the Borough
of Southall continued to be recorded during the year 1961 at the five sites at which recordings
have been carried out for previous years.
In addition, the station which was established in 1959 at the Manor House, for the
estimation of smoke and sulphur dioxide pollution by the volumetric method, whereby
air is drawn through two filters, one dry and one liquid, continuously and the amount of
atmospheric pollution calculated every 24 hours from the matter deposited on the filter,
and from the amount of sulphur taken up by the liquid, continued to operate during 1961.
For 1961 results see page 46.
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 50 and graphs prepared from the figures on the
table are to be found on pages 47, 48 and 49.
Comparison of ten years' averages at Hortus Cemetery.
Total solids deposited:—
1952 11.93 1957 10.66
1953 10.67 1958 13.83
1954 14.30 1959 13.04
1955 16.94 1960 10.30
1956 12.93 1961 10.86
Comparisons with three other places, i.e. Westminster, Cambridge and Sheffield, still
show that Southall is atmospherically much less impure all the year round than a highly
industrial area, but the Borough is included in a large ring round and including London
itself designated as a black area for atmospheric pollution under the Clean Air Act, 1956.
Alterations in plant, fuels and instrumentation have continued to effect an improvement
in the level of industrial smoke emissions. No routine smoke observations have been
made during the year. Instead the practice is now followed of informal visits to premises
where the amount of smoke emitted appears to be unnecessary, even though this may
not amount to a statutory nuisance. A warning letter was sent by the Council in one case
where an emission of black smoke infringed the Dark Smoke (Permitted Periods) Regulations,
1958.
Eighteen complaints of nuisance from smoke were received. These mainly concerned
emissions from small incinerators and indiscriminate burning of refuse. In 14 cases the
nuisance was confirmed and eventually remedied. In 4 cases the nuisance was not confirmed.
Smoke Control Areas
Smoke Control Order No. 2 became operative on the 1st May, 1961. This covers
879 dwellings, 67 commercial premises, 6 industrial premises and 16 other premises. At
the end of the year approval of adaptation in 412 houses had been given.
Smoke Control Order No. 3 was made and confirmed during the year to become
operative on 1st July, 1962. This covers 1,073 dwellings, 84 commercial premises, 14
industrial premises and 10 other premises.
In addition the survey of Smoke Control Area No. 4 was commenced.
There were two instances in Smoke Control Area No. 2 where smoke from the burning
of coal was emitted after the Order came into operation. In both cases the offenders were
new tenants who had no knowledge of the restrictions. The co-operation of merchants
in avoiding deliveries of coal in smoke control areas would help in such cases.
Acid Smuts from oil-burning chimneys
A firm referred to in the last annual report as having a chimney emitting acid smuts
during the winter months from an oil fired central heating boiler, agreed during the year
to replace their metal stacks with stacks specially designed to prevent this nuisance.
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