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The stations at 76 High Street, West Mead and Coldharbour Lane are not yet in Smoke Control
Areas. The prevailing wind is from the South-West and attention is drawn to the fact that:—
The Northwood site is approached over several miles of open countryside and measures local
pollution only: West Mead has a large open space, Northolt Aerodrome, to the West: William Byrd
also has a large open space, London Airport, to the West, separated from it by the Bath Road
(A.4). The Coldharbour Lane site has been positioned so as to record the maximum pollution from
the Hayes main industrial area and is situated on a main road (A.312): The Grange Park site is
North-East of intense development right across the Borough from the Buckinghamshire boundary.
The intensity of development affecting the catchment area of the sites, as say between the High
Street, Northwood, and Grange Park, Hayes, proximity to open spaces or major roads, etc., will all
have some bearing on results obtained. Further, meteorological conditions can have a marked effect
on results, e.g. during fog, pollution often rises to ten times the normal level. In comparing statistical
records of this nature it is better to note trends rather than to draw firm conclusions from the figures
for any particular month.
However, it will be noted that the low summer/winter ratios for the Coldharbour Lane site
indicate very good co-operation from the industries in this area and that the establishment of
Smoke Control Areas in the former Hayes and Harlington district is indicated in the winter smoke
concentration while the summer/winter ratio of SO2 is similar for all stations.
Daily volumetric stations for measuring smoke and sulphur dioxide were installed in the former
Ruislip/Northwood district in October 1961. The records of the West Mead, South Ruislip and the
Grange Park School, Hayes stations for June and January for the last 5 years are set out below.
Both stations are situated in somewhat similar residential areas, although the West Mead site has
the advantage of a wide open space at Northolt Airport.