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The following Smoke Control Orders were also made by the Council during the
year and are planned to be operative in 1967:
Acreage. No. of Dwellings. No. of other Premises.
Barnes No. 8 Order 688 1,483 96
Richmond No. 8 Order 153 1,953 127
Twickenham No. 6 Order 2,441 4,722 526
The supply of authorised fuels continued to be adequate to meet all demands for
existing areas but late in the year the Gas Boards stated that they would be unable to
give assurances of adequate supplies of open-fire gas coke for future smoke control
areas The Council accordingly agreed that in addition to grants for adapting coal
burning fires they would give similar aid towards the adaptation of improved fires in
areas designated after September. It must be emphasised, however, that the Boards
have said they will honour assurances given in the past that adequate supplies of coke
will be available to meet any demand in existing areas.
A few occupiers of buildings in Smoke Control Areas were found to be emitting
smoke through burning bituminous coal and after an informal approach they all discontinued
the practice.
The grant arrangements have continued whereby householders have freedom of
choice in selecting appliances to replace coal fires. Within the grant scheme their
preference has been as follows:
51% gas room heaters, 28% improved open fires, 14% solid fuel room heaters,
5% underfloor draught open fires and 2% electric storage heaters.
These figures illustrate the trend away from inefficient open fires which, even
when burning approved fuels, still contribute sulphur dioxide as an atmospheric pollutant.
Solid fuel room heaters are more than twice aa efficient as open fires, burn less
than half the fuel for the same heat output, and consequently reduce the emission of
sulphur dioxide. The gas room heater preferred by the largest percentage of applicants
for various qualities, including convenience, does not significantly add to the problem
because the amount of sulphur in the gas supplied is negligible.
(b) A few complaints were received concerning the emission of smoke from the
burning of waste matter in open yards and gardens; the Clean Air Act, 1956 has
created an offence where this practice causes a nuisance to the inhabitants of the
neighbourhood and advice was given in all cases to ensure that the disposal of these
materials did not contravene the Act.
There are now no known industrial furnaces in the Borough which are hand fired
with bituminous coal. In the past these furnaces have been notorious for adding to the
air pollution problem. Today either a chain-grate or under-feed type stoker is in
general use for coal firing. The former (and less common type) has given rise to no
complaint, but operators of underfeed stokers have needed advice from time to time to
ensure smokeless functioning of the furnaces.
Oil-fired boilers must be properly maintained and operated if they are not to
produce smoke and only rarely during the year has any approach had to be made
concerning smoke emissions.
Plans of proposed chimneys at factories were examined under Section 10 of the
Clean Air Act to check that the height would be sufficient to prevent the smoke or
gases from becoming prejudicial to health or a nuisance. Generally, a request had had
to be made for an increase in the height. This section of the Act does not apply to
residences, shops or offices, although these premises may have central heating furnaces
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