View report page

In a paper on "The London Fog" of December 2nd—5th, 1957,
Drs. Bradley, Logan and Martin, after an extensive study of death
returns and meteorological conditions concluded that this fog caused
between 800 and 1,000 deaths in Greater London. Conditions were
worst in the eastern parts of London and a higher proportion of
deaths was noted in these areas. The total deaths from the weekly
reports of the Registrar-General for the nine towns Barking, Chigwell,
Dagenham, East Ham, Hornsey, Ilford, Leyton, West Ham and
Wanstead and Woodford for the week ended 5th December the
corresponding number was 283, an increase of 89.
Part of the Clean Air Act, 1956 came into operation on the 31st
December, 1956 and provided the first legislation for dealing with
domestic smoke.
The Public Health (Clean Air Act) Sub-Committee after full consideration
of the pollution in the Borough decided that further information
on the establishment of a smoke control area was required.
The Act provides for grants towards the cost of adaptation of
heating appliances to burn smokeless fuels. The financial implications
of a smoke control area are therefore considerable, and to
provide the necessary data a preliminary survey was carried out of
approximately one house in five in the Snaresbrook Ward.
The following information was obtained:—
1. Total number of houses and flats surveyed 381
2. Number of houses and flats where no alteration was required 113
3. Number of houses and flats where some adaptation or
alteration was required 268
(a) Number of fireplaces which can be adapted by provision
of a solid smokeless fuel grate 331
(b) Number of old fireplaces which can only be adapted
by complete removal 44
(c) Number of gas ignition points required 331
As shown in 3(a) above the large majority of adaptations required
are the relatively low cost replacement of stool bottom grates with
approved smokeless fuel grates. The more expensive adaptations
under 3(b) are the very old type of fireplace which can only be
altered by complete removal or sealing off, and provision of a free
standing appliance.
The amount of fuel consumed averaged about 2 tons per annum per
house or flat of which slightly more than 50 per cent was bituminous
coal and the remainder smokeless fuel.
It was estimated on the information provided by the survey that
the average cost of adaptation in a smoke cpntrol area would be
approximately £11—12 per house.
21