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AIR
The Clean Air Acts 1956-65 give authority to control pollution of the atmosphere from a
number of specific sources:
(1) Smoke from domestic chimneys by making Smoke Control Orders.
(2) Dark smoke from industrial chimneys.
(3) Dark smoke from industrial bonfires.
(4) Smoke other than from the previous three sources which is a nuisance.
(5) Emission of dust and grit from industrial chimneys.
Local authorities are also authorised to undertake research into atmospheric pollution and
to undertake publicity.
In addition local authorities have general powers under other Public Health Legislation to
control emissions of dust and offensive effluvia from industrial processes.
Details of the efforts made to improve the atmosphere in this Borough are set out under
various headings.
SMOKE CONTROL PROGRAMME
The smoke control programme made little progress in 1971. Although two Orders suspended
from 1970 became operative during the year the shortage of solid smokeless fuel made it impossible
to declare any further Orders to become operative in 1971. It was not necessary, however, to
suspend any of the earlier Orders as had been the situation in 1970. Late in 1971 information
was received from the Solid Smokeless Fuel Foundation, the Southern Electricity Board and the
North Thames Gas Board that fuel supplies were adequate for the making of further Smoke Control
Orders and five Orders were made to become operative in 1972. Details of these Orders are:
Date of
Smoke Control Area Operation Location
7 1.10.72 Hillingdon Heath -Abbotsfield School
14 1.8.72 Hillingdon Hill — Moorcroft Green
13 Not yet Woodland Avenue, Eastcote and surrounding area
confirmed
16 do. Area around Cavendish Sports Ground
17 do. Ruislip Gardens - Torrington Road area
Measurement of Smoke and Sulphur Dioxide in the Atmosphere
The routine monitoring of the daily smoke and sulphur dioxide in micro-grammes per cubic
metre in the atmosphere has continued at the 7 stations already established in the Borough. The
monthly averages for both smoke and sulphur dioxide are set out in the table. The stations are
designed to operate for 7 days without attention. When breakdowns occur the monthly average
is not calculated because the results obtained from the lesser number of days could be inaccurate.
This is the reason for some monthly results not being shown.
The results achieved by the smoke control programme can be seen from the following table,
however, the increased winter sunshine and the absence of dense fog are more readily appreciated
and understood advantages. Apart from the long term health advantages these benefits must
have made the combined smoke control programmes of the London Authorities one of the outstanding
improvements in the environment and at relatively small cost.
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