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25
Thirty-four visits of inspection were made to the premises outlined
above and the following defective conditions were remedied: —
Want of cleanliness to Factory walls, etc. —
Inadequate ventilation of Factories —
Ineffective drainage of Factory floors 2
Insufficient Sanitary accommodation 1
Unsuitable or defective conditions in Sanitary accommodation
—
Other matters requiring attention 11
14
ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION.
The Clean Air Act, 1956 gives to local authorities the power to
make Smoke Control Areas in any part of their district, and on the
21st October, 1958, the Council decided, in principle, that the whole
of the Borough should be covered by successive Smoke Control Orders
within the next 10 years.
Richmond is not an industrial area, but it lies in that part of the
Thames Valley which was referred to as a "black area" in the Beaver
Report on Atmospheric Pollution. "Black Areas" are described in the
Report as urban areas which are liable both to smoke pollution and
to natural fog, and in Richmond it may be assumed that domestic
chimneys are the principal cause of smoke pollution.
When Smoke Control Areas are established, only smokeless fuels
will be permitted to be used, and these fuels comprise electricity, gas,
coke, anthracite, low volatile steam coal and carbonised coals ; in
addition oil-fired installations will be acceptable if designed and
properly maintained for oil fuels.
After a Smoke Control Order becomes operative, it will be necessary
for many heating and cooking appliances to be adapted or changed to
enable them to be used with smokeless fuels, and in the case of private
dwellings (but not new dwellings constructed after the 5th July, 1956)
the greater part of the cost of conversion will be borne by the local
authority. The cost will be divided on the basis of : —
30% paid by the owner or occupier
50% paid by the local authority 70% grant to the
40% paid by Exchequer grant j owner or occupier.