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for a 14 inch fireplace opening, £4. 0. 0, for a 16 inch
opening and £4. 10. 0. for an 18 inch opening taking an open
fire. If it is desired to provide a gas or electric appliance,
then a basic figure of £4. 10. 0. is regarded as the equivalent
cost. Therefore, the Council is prepared to pay 7/l0ths of
£4. 10. 0. as the maximum cost of converting a fireplace plus
7/l0ths of the minimum cost of fixing and providing ignition*
Under normal circumstance s a grant is payable far
conversion in rooms which are regularly used, far example a living
room or a sitting room, but in the case of an elderly person
occupying a bed sitting room an application would be favourably
considered. If it is desired to carry out mare extensive works
or choose expensive appliances there is no difficulty about this,
but the applicant would be eligible for a grant based on the
minimum cost of the conversion.
HOT TO OBTAIN THE GRANT.
The Council will advise residents when to apply far grant
and the applicant then has to decide what he proposes to do.
The procedure is to obtain an estimate from a contractor and
submit it to the Chief Public Health Inspector, Municipal Offices,
New Maiden. who will advise when the Council has approved the
application and the amount of grant payable. The applicant
is advised to give instructions to his contractor to have the
work dene without delay following receipt of the Council's
written approval far in the past it has been found that immediately
prior to the date of operation of a Smoke Control Area contractors
receive a very large number of orders and this causes delay and
inconvenience to all concerned.
When the work has been commenced the Chief Public Health
Inspector should be advised and the appliance will be inspected
to make sure that it is satisfactorily installed. When the
contractor's account is received it should be sent to the Council
together with the claim form and the grant will be paid within
the course of a few days if there are no discrepancies.
All tenants are advised to consult their landlord before
proceeding and if the work is done by the landlord he is entitled
to increase the rent by 12½% per annum of the nett cost to him.
FUELS AND STORAGE,
The storage of smokeless fuels is a matter which should
be carefully considered. Many people have been in the habit of
purchasing their coal supplies during the summer months when the