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of two of these until 1973. These postponements were necessary to permit the re-organised maintenance
division of the Housing Department to adjust to the accelerated programme. It is not anticipated
that this will be a permanent difficulty and a further five areas were surveyed in 1972 and
orders have been made so that a total of 7 orders will become operative in 1973.
Measurements of Smoke and Sulphur Dioxide in the Atmosphere
The routine monitoring of the daily smoke sulphur dioxide in micro-grammes per cubic metre
in the atmosphere was carried out at the 7 stations already established in the Borough. A table showing
the monthly averages for both smoke and sulphur dioxide is set out on page 62. The stations
are designed to operate continuously for seven days without attention and in the event of a breakdown
monthly averages are not calculated as the results obtained from the lesser number of days
would be inaccurate. For this reason some monthly results are not shown. Towards the end of the
year the station at West Drayton was discontinued to permit some checks to be made at another
location. The equipment was adjusted so that it required daily attention but gave recordings at
3 hourly intervals throughout the 24 hours in preference to giving a single daily return.
It was gratifying to note that although there was an inversion, and fog occurred for several
continuous days during the December period there was little or no evidence of smog in the Borough,
the highest smoke concentration was in Northwood.
INDUSTRIAL CHIMNEYS
The Clean Air Act requires that the intention to install any industrial furnace, or any domestic
furnace with a rating of 55,000 or more Btu/hour shall be notified to the local authority. During 1972
notifications of the intention to install 27 furnaces were received. One of these related to a solid fuel
domestic furnace, 10 related to gas furnaces, 14 related to furnaces burning light fuel oil which has a
lower sulphur content than solid fuel, one to a furnace burning heavy fuel oil which has a sulphur
content greater than solid fuel and one to an incinerator. Thirteen inspections were made in connection
with boiler installations and chimneys and no contraventions were recorded. In addition to
the formal notifications received, one large industrial boiler house in the Borough converted its
boilers from burning heavy fuel oil to permit the burning of dual fuels, natural gas and heavy fuel
oil. The natural gas is used as the main fuel but oil has been retained for emergency use. This conversion
should cause a considerable improvement in the atmosphere in the immediate vicinity of the
boiler house by reducing the sulphur dioxide content in the atmosphere.
Where a new furnace has a rating of a million and a quarter or more Btu/hour in addition to
notifying the intention to install a furnace, approval has to be obtained to the chimney height. This
control is to ensure that the ground level concentration of sulphur dioxide is kept within reasonable
limits. Six applications for approval were received, in each case prior consultations had taken place
and it was not necessary to refuse any of the applications.
A proposal to include in a Greater London Council (General Powers) Bill a restriction to
the use of light fuel oil only i.e. that which has a sulphur content of less than solid fuel was supported
but only providing the condition was adoptive and not compulsory. The present sulphur dioxide
level in this Borough would not justify imposing additional expense on those individuals using heavy
oil.
INDUSTRIAL BONFIRES
Under the provisions of Section 1 of the Clean Air Act 1968 it is an offence for dark smoke to
be emitted from industrial bonfires. One such offence relating to the emission of dark smoke from
burning of waste on an industrial refuse tip was observed and legal proceedings have been authorised.
The case has not yet been heard. Thirteen complaints of nuisance from industrial bonfires were
investigated in 1972.
SMOKE NUISANCES
147 complaints of smoke nuisance were received during 1972 and 408 visits were made in an
attempt to abate and prevent recurrences of such nuisances. No legal action was recommended
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