London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Hillingdon 1971
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hillingdon]
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| STATION | Date in operative Smoke Control Area | Smoke | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 1971 | June 1971 | Ratio | January | ||
| Grange Park School, Hayes | 1960 | 49 | 14 | 3.5:1 | 1965* 71 |
| Drayton Hall, West Drayton | 1962 | 72 | 1967* 51 | ||
| Oak Farm School, Hillingdon | 1968 | 53 | 13 | 4.1:1 | 1967* 53 |
| West Mead Clinic, Ruislip | 1968 | 64 | 12 | 5.3:1 | 1965* 85 |
| Coldharbour Lane, Hayes | 1971** | 49 | 12 | 4.1:1 | 1965* 97 |
| High Street, Uxbridge | 62 | 16 | 3.9:1 | 1967* 66 | |
| High Street, Northwood | 64 | 12 | 5.3:1 | 1965* 92 | |
* The Years shown are the first available from records kept by this Borough.
** The Smoke Control Order affecting this area was delayed to coincide with the completion of the modernisation
of the southern portion of the Council's Botwell Housing Estate, but the area is already surrounded by
operative smoke control areas.
INDUSTRIAL CHIMNEYS
The control of emissions of smoke and other gaseous pollutants from industrial chimneys is
achieved by the following methods. The Clean Air Act requires that the intention to install any
industrial furnace, or any domestic furnace with a rating 55,000 Btu hour or more shall be notified
to the local authority. During 1971 notification of the intention to install 39 furnaces were received.
Of these notifications 19 related to gas furnaces, 16 to furnaces burning liquid fuel which has a
sulphur content less than that of solid fuel, 3 to furnaces burning heavy fuel oil which has a sulphur
content greater than that of solid fuel and one to an incinerator. 104 inspections were made in
connection with boiler installations and chimneys and no contraventions were recorded.
If the notification relates to an installation with a rating of 1,250,000 or more British thermal
units per hour, then approval has to be given to the chimney height. This control is to ensure
that the ground level concentration of sulphur dioxide is kept to a minimum. Nine applications
for approval were received. Prior consultation as to the height of the chimney required had taken
place before the applications were submitted and it was not necessary to refuse any application.
Meetings were attended with representatives of the Central Electricity Generating Board,
the Greater London Council and Ealing Borough Council concerning the proposed Generating
Station at Bulls Bridge, Hayes, and provisional chimney heights have been agreed. A complication
in this issue is the proximity of London Heathrow Airport, and if the agreed height is not acceptable
to the Airport Authority further consultations will take place to consider the use of alternative
fuel with a lower sulphur content.
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