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Clean Air Act, 1956
On the 1st June, 1958, all those provisions of the Clean Air Act which
had not already become operative, came into force. Probably the largest
contribution the Act makes to freeing the atmosphere from the pollution
which is the cause of so much morbidity and mortality, is the power it
confers on Local Authorities, to create "smokeless zones," where after the
completion of the necessary adaptation of heating appliances, it will be
an offence for any chimney to emit smoke.
As is well known most of the air pollution experienced in the Greater
London conurbation, emanates from domestic chimneys and remedial
action in this area will be concerned mainly with private dwellings. In the
latter part of the year consideration was being given to the creation of
smoke control areas. Such action if successfully pursued to cover the whole
of the conurbation offers the greatest prospect of at last removing what is
probably the greatest single cause of illhealth, particularly that associated
with respiratory disease. The report of the "working party on Sanitary
Inspectors" (now designated Public Health Inspectors) set up by the
Minister in 1956, has this to say in this connection, "it is clear that the full
duties which may be performed by a Sanitary Inspector in relation to
atmospheric pollution call for a high degree of technical knowledge and
there is a special examination in smoke which many Inspectors take."
In anticipation of their extended duties under the Clean Air Act, all the
Public Health Inspectors have secured this additional qualification.
For many years past the Council have, as a means of assessing the
degree of air pollution, provided apparatus for measuring and recording
such pollution after receiving the advice of the Department of Scientific
and Industrial Research. This takes the form of deposit gauges, filters for
assessing smoke concentration and sulphur dioxide content. The three
deposit gauges A, B and C from which grit, etc. is calculated on the basis
of tons deposited per square mile, were sited at Welbeck Road, Winchcombe
Road and Limes Avenue respectively, until on the advice of the Department
of Scientific and Industrial Research gauge C was resited in May to
Buckhurst Avenue and gauge A was withdrawn in October. The apparatus
for the estimation of smoke density and SO2 concentration is sited at
The Lodge, Honeywood Walk. The following readings were obtained
from this equipment during the year:—

*Readings discontinued on 1.10.58.
†Site changed on 8.5.58.
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