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ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION
Three stations were in operation throughout the year for the estimation
by the volumetric method of the amount of smoke and sulphur dioxide present in
the atmosphere except that the Staveley Road station was out of commission for
part of the month of March and the whole of the month of April due to a break
down of apparatus The Fuel Research Station of the Department of Scientific
and Industrial Research was supplied monthly with details of the readings ob
tained for inclusion in the National survey of atmospheric pollution,
Table XV on page 89 gives a summary of the year s recordings, and the
monthly averages have been set out in graph form as Graph "C" This shows little
change from the pattern of previous years and a comparison is made in Graphs
"E" and "F" with the readings for smoke and sulphur dioxide obtained in the
Borough ten years ago. Although no appreciable improvement is shown by this
comparison one wonders what the results would have been if all the work of
recent years for the promotion of clean air had not been carried out
No periods of “smog” such as those occurring in 1962 and 1952 were exper
ienced during the year.
The average monthly concentrations of smoke measured at the three stations
in the Borough are compared in Graph D on page 53 with those of Leeds Central
London and Lerwick Leeds has been chosen to represent an industrial area s
smoke production while Lerwick is a virtually smokeless area It is regretted
that at the time of printing figures for Lerwick for the whole of the year
were not available and the graph in this case has been completed by estimation
based on previous years recordings
Clean Air Act 19 56
During the year 72 complaints were received concerning alleged smoke grit,
dust and smut nuisances These included the burning of vehicle interior furnish
ings bonfires smoke and smuts from chimneys and an incinerator Upon in
vestigation and where cause for complaint was confirmed remedial measures were
taken and these sometimes resulted in the inspection and overhaul of offending
appliances by the manufacturers A close watch has also been kept on any pre
mises which are liable to cause atmospheric pollution periodically, A total of
131 visits revisits or observations were made during the year for all of these
purposes
Alleged nuisances from bonfires continue to be reported to the Department
but no action has been possible in many cases as the bonfire either was not
causing a nuisance or it had been put out before a visit could be made Now
that smokeless fuels are being more widely used as the smoke control areas
progress many residents complain to the Department of smoke from bonfires on
a misapprehension that these are prohibited under the Clean Air Act 1956, A
bonfire must be causing nuisance to the inhabitants of the neighbourhood before
it can be deemed to be a statutory nuisance
The advice of the Officers has been sought concerning the height of new
chimneys to be erected at business or industrial premises in the area. Seven
such cases were dealt with during the year The Officers of the Department have sought
advice from the Warren Spring Laboratory of the Department of Scientific and
Industrial Research concerning the heights of chimney stacks for the lower capacity
oil fired, air heating units now being installed, particularly in factory
premises as the rating of these appliances is generally lower than those dealt
with in the Memorandum on Chimney Heights issued by the Ministry of Housing and
Local Government It was suggested that factory owners should be encouraged
to install chimneys of such a height as to clear the ridge of the nearest build
ing.
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