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(54)
(3) Increased use of closed appliances (including openable stoves) and
under-floor-draught open grates is desirable.
(4) Gas, oil and electricity provide acceptable alternatives to solid
fuels for a large proportion of householders in smoke control areas.
These industries should have little difficulty in expanding supplies
to the extent necessary to fill the gap in the supply of solid smokeless
fuels although in the case of electricity it is desirable that
space heating should be done by storage, and not by direct-acting,
appliances.
(5) The availability and attractiveness of the different smokeless fuels
in relation to each other will vary from place to place. Local
authorities should consult closely with the fuel and power industries
before preparing smoke control orders.
The Ministry of Housing and Local Government advised Local Authorities
on proposed changes in policy whereby the type of appliances which would be
eligible for grant would have to be capable of burning hard coke, unless there
were adequate supplies of other fuels, including gas coke, to meet the needs
of proposed areas. Existing Smoke Control Areas and areas already confirmed
but not in operation, would be unaffected by the proposals.
In considering the proposed No.5 Smoke Control Area, the Council
received assurances from the fuel suppliers, that adequate supplies of solid
smokeless fuel, other than hard coke, would be made available for that
particular area and on the basis of these assurances, the Order was submitted
to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government for confirmation.
The Council considered the implications of the white Paper and the
Ministry of Housing and Local Government circular and bearing in mind the
imminent amalgamation with Kingston and Surbiton, decided to refer to the
new Council decisions on future smoke control policy.
During the year 5,182 visits were made in connection with the
introduction of smoke control areas and the Mobile Exhibition of the Solid
Smokeless Fuels Federation visited the Borough on two occasions.
A statistical summary follows.