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6. Atmospheric Pollution.
(a) Smoke Control Areas. The second Smoke Control Order,
covering approximately 1,910 acres in Ham and Petersham (to the
south of Sandy Lane) was confirmed by the Minister of Housing and
Local Government on 30th June, 1961, and came into operation on 1st
January, 1962. Included in this area are 902 private dwellings, 615
Council houses and 84 other premises.
The third Smoke Control Order was made by the Council on 12th
September, 1961 and awaits confirmation. This Order covers an area
of 382 acres, extending from Sandy Lane to the Vineyard and includes
1,663 private dwellings, 214 Council houses and 112 other properties.
The Order is expected to come into operation on 1st October, 1962.
(b) Complaints of Smoke Emission. The number of complaints
received has remained low and they have referred to bonfires in
gardens and on building sites rather than to industrial chimneys. The
few complaints made of smoke emission from factory chimneys were
properly investigated and the advice given generally resulted in the
desired improvement. No legal proceedings were taken in the year
for any contravention of the Clean Air Act.
7. Diseases of Animals Act, 1950.
Outbreaks of foot and mouth disease were much lower in the
country in 1961 when 103 outbreaks were confirmed (compared to
298 in the previous year). Richmond was not included in an infected
area and no case of the disease occurred in the Borough.
8 Petroleum Spirit Storage.
Forty-eight premises are licensed to store petrol and petroleum
mixtures totalling 77,140 gallons. The licence conditions provide that
storage tanks be tested in the 20th, 25 th and 30th year after installation
and thereafter in every second year. Ten tanks were tested and
found satisfactory, and at one garage a 750 gallon tank was examined
and found be be leaking; the use of this tank was discontinued forthwith.
9. Caravan Sites.
The Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act, 1960 came
into operation during the year. The Act gives local authorities
effective powers for controlling sites so that they may be properly
equipped and conducted and permitted only in acceptable places.
There is, in the Borough, only one licensed site which accommodates
three caravans.