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or disapprove an application in respect of the height of a chimney
without reference to the Building Regulations. I was authorised by
the Council to act in accordance with the new provisions and four
applications were approved in 1969.
Measurement oj Atmospheric Pollution.
The Health Department now maintains eight eight-port instruments
which are sited in approved positions in the Borough. These instruments,
which record smoke density and sulphur dioxide contained
in the atmosphere, are visited weekly. Recordings are standardised
and the results are sent monthly to the Ministry of Technology.
The graphs which have been published in this report in previous
years, are not available this year, but nevertheless, it is interesting
to note that the average monthly concentration of smoke still
continues to fall during mid-winter months, the maximum being
62 microgrammes per cubic metre, and to maintain their normal low
level during mid-summer months (18 microgrammes per cubic metre).
The average monthly concentrations of sulphur dioxide also fell during
1969, to a maximum in mid-winter of 204 microgrammes per cubic
metre, and to 76 microgrammes per cubic metre during mid-summer.
This slight fall in the levels of both smoke and sulphur dioxide concentrations
is undoubtedly due in some measure to the continuation
of the Smoke Control area programme.
Smoke Control Areas.
The Clean Air Act, 1956, embodies provisions designed to reduce
pollution from both industrial and domestic sources, including
the creation of smoke control areas. Air pollution has an intimate
effect upon people's lives and its control is, in my opinion, essential.
The Council has already approved a scheme to cover the Borough with
Smoke Control Orders by 1975, and this work is proceeding steadily.
The position on 31st December, 1969, was as follows:—
Wimbledon Smoke Control Orders—
No. 1 1962 Operative date 1.12.63.
No. 2 1962 Operative date 1.6.64.
No. 3 1963 Operative date 1.10.64.
No. 4 1963 Operative date 1.7.65.
Merton and Morden Smoke Control Orders—
No. 1 1961 Operative date 1.10.62.
No. 2 1961 Operative date 1.10.62
No. 3 1962 Operative date 1.10.63.
No. 4 1963 Operative date 1.10.64.
No. 5 1963 Operative date 1.10.64.
No. 6 1964 Operative date 1.10.65.
No. 7 1965 Operative date 1.10.66.
Mitcham Smoke Control Orders—
No. 1 1963 Operative date 1.12.63.
No. 2 1963 Operative date 1.11.64.
No. 3a 1964 Operative date 1.11.65.
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