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15.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF
THE CHIEF PUBLIC HEALTH INSPECTOR
1958
Public Health Department,
Municipal Offices,
New Maiden.
June, 1959.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of
the Borough of Maiden and Coombe.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present my 6th annual report on the work of
the Public Health Inspectors during the year.
The Clean Air Act, 1956, which came into full operation during
the year, is the strongest piece of legislation ever put on the statute
book to deal with atmospheric pollution. For the first time power has
been given to local authorities to deal with the question of domestic
smoke.
The Committee on Air Pollution made the following observations:
"We have made it clear that much can be done to reduce industrial
smoke. But nearly half of all the smoke in the air comes from domestic
chimneys. The proportion is greater in areas where houses predominate.
Further, most of the domestic smoke is produced during the winter months
when foggy conditions are most likely to occur. Although the smoke from
domestic chimneys is less dense than that from industrial chimneys, it
is discharged at a low level and its harmful effects are thereby accentuated.
No cure can, therefore, be found for the heavy smoke pollution
of our cities and towns unless the domestic chimney is dealt with. In
our view there would be little justification for requiring industry and
commerce to take all possible measures to prevent smoke, often at
considerable cost, if the problem of domestic smoke were not also tackled".
This is a mainly residential area which suffers from 'smog'. As
mentioned in my report, the Council will be giving further consideration
to smoke control areas in November, 1959.
I am,
Mr. Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors,
Your obedient servant,
S. J. T. WOOD.
Chief Public Health Inspector.