View report page

115
site is under the control of the Housing Manager and one of the gypsies
has been appointed Warden. The weekly rent charged is an economic one
and is approximately £2.10s.0d. for each pitch. Since the opening of the
site most of the pitches have been occupied.
The Council has agreed to spend a further £1,000 on increasing the
number of W.C's. and the provision of wash boilers to supplement the
existing immersion heater hot water system.
Clean Air Act
The promotion and maintenance of Clean Air in the Borough is still
making good progress. During the year Smoke Control Area No. 14 (Clayhall
and Barkingside) came into operation and the position to date is as
follows:-
Total number of premises within the Borough 90,963
Total number of premises with Smoke Control areas in operation 59,255
T ota I area of Borough 13,983 acres
Total area of Borough covered by Smoke Control areas 11,029 acres
Reference to the map in appendix 00 shows the two remaining
areas not yet under Smoke Control. The Council made an order in September
for one of these areas, No. 15 (Cranbrook and Park) and this has
been submitted to the Minister of Housing and Local Government for confirmation.
Due to the economic position some slight delay in completing
the programme may be expected, but it is still hoped that this will not
be later than 1971.
There is little doubt that the promotion of Smoke Control areas receives
a great deal of local support. An article published in a local
newspaper in December 1968 on this subject was based on information
from this Department. The degree of co-operation, especially by residents,
has been one of the most encouraging features of the whole
programme.
With regard to fuels, there is still a tendency to prefer gas to solid
fuel. Due to the lifting of the restrictions, by the Minister in August, on
fixed electric space heaters, grants can now be made towards the cost of
these appliances. Shortage of some named smokeless solid fuels occurs
from time to time, and in order to overcome this trouble the public are
advised to cultivate the use of an alternative fuel.
In addition to the abolition of smoke the programme is helping to
provide a more efficient heating system in peoples' homes. The more
modern appliances are not as wasteful as the old and thus extra heat for
warming rooms etc. is provided. The number of applications for grants on