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Fourteen notices of proposals to install a furnace to which
Section 3 (1) of the Act applied were received, and the installations
were inspected and recorded.
In 21 instances plans which were deposited for Building Regulations
approval showed in each case the proposed construction of a
chimney. After examination of the plans, followed by discussions
with the applicants, opinions upon the height of the chimneys in
relation to Section 10 of the Act were sent to the Borough Surveyor.
Measurement oj Atmospheric Pollution.
The Health Department maintained two single port instruments
and six eight port instruments which are sited in approved positions
in the Borough. These instruments, which record smoke density and
sulphur dioxide content in the atmosphere, are visited daily in the
case of single port instruments and weekly in the case of eight port
instruments. Recordings are standardised and the results are sent
monthly to the Ministry of Technology.
It is of value to the practical aspects of the control of air pollution
to be able to equate action taken with measurements which show
improvement. In previous Annual Reports, the average monthly results
have been expressed in the form of tables, but in the following
pages these results are depicted by means of graphs. The figures for
1967 are only available up to the month of May but it is hoped, in
succeeding years, to show the complete graphs for the year of the
Report.
It is pleasing to note the steady fall during the winter months,
in smoke concentrations in the atmosphere, due undoubtedly in some
measure to the coming into operation of Smoke Control Orders.
It is known that there is an increased use of oil fuels, particularly
in industry, and although sulphur dioxide concentrations are higher
generally than smoke concentrations, the graph indicates again a steady
fall during the winter months of sulphur dioxide content. The use
of higher chimneys, more refined fuels and advanced boilerhouse
equipment all have an effect upon this reduction of sulphur dioxide.
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