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Smoke Abatement
During the year the Public Health Inspectors made 437 visits concerning smoke emission
by industrial premises, and to give advice on the working of the installations. The managements
were obviously aware of the increased interest in clean air, and general Improvements
have resulted. There is, however, still room for considerable improvement, which will no
doubt follow when supplies of smokeless fuel are more readily available and obsolete plants
are modernised in accordance with the provisions of the new Aot.
Among the large industrial firms in Custom House and Silvertown it is gratifying to
note that many continue to make use of the facilities available at the Fuel Research Station,
Greenwich, which have resulted in marked Improvement in the operation of their installations.
On the other hand, some firms still experience difficulty In recruiting suitable stokers
particularly in the smaller plants which are hand-fired. This is due largely to full employment
and the failure on the part of some firms to recognize a stoker as a skilled craftsman.
Clean Air
The Present Position
1957 was a year of transition as far as the Clean Air Act was concerned. A number of
the provisions of the Act came into force on the 31st December, 1956 and plaoed many new duties
on Looal Authorities, but the principal seotions for the control of dark smoke and of grit and
dust will not operate until some time in 1958. At present, therefore the provisions of the
Public Health Act, 1936, on smoke abatement remain effective. Under this the word "smoke"
includes "soot, ash, grit and gritty particles". Provisions that require a nuisance to be
proved or enable a "best practicable means" defence to be used, are rarely invoked and many
Local Authorities have secured byelaws which define a nuisanoe to be the emission of black
smoke for more than two (in some cases three) minutes in thirty. No byelaws for smoke other
than black have been approved. Private dwellings are exempt from action, and no action may be
taken which interferes with or obstructs the efficient working of mines or metallurgical
prooesses.
Action may be taken with regard to smoke or other nuisance from air pollution under
oomroon law procedure and can be 'used to secure both damages and an injunction. Such action
will not be affected by the coming into force of the Clean Air Act.
Progress towards clean air is not simply a matter of an Act of Parliament, aotion by
local authorities and public approval. It is also a matter of materials - plant, instruments,
aPplianoes, fuel and power. The development of these have been stimulated by the new Act and
much progress in production and application is to be seen. During the year new smokeless
fuels came on to the market and new plant for producing suoh fuels has been erected. There is
all-round progress but it is doubtful whether it has yet reached anything like the level needed
to achieve the Beaver Committee's programme in the estimated 10 to 15 years. Everything is
moving in the right direction but it is moving too slowly.
Although a number of provisions of the new Act are not yet operative some progress
was made under the sections which came into force on 31st December, 1956, notably sections
3, 10 & 24. The provisions of these sections have thrust new and important duties on Local
Authorities.
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