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119
residents exhibits a keen local interest on the subject. One hears of
shortages of certain solid smokeless fuels during the winter months,
but local residents appear to overcome this trouble by using alternative
solid smokeless fuels or other appliances such as gas, electricity or oil.
Certainly we find very few contraventions of our Smoke Control Orders
even at such times. It may be that our local residents are keen to preserve
the benefits that they can now see derive from clean air. 1 he
trend still continues towards the use of gas and electricity when replacing
coal-fired grates, but with regard to central heating, many applicants
instal solid fuel systems as these are very efficient and cheaper
to instal and run.
The majority of industrial installations in the Borough are oil-fired
and as a result of automatic control their stacks rarely emit smoke.
Generally, contraventions from these sources are few in number.
The work of the department on air pollution abatement can be
divided into four main groups.
^a) Measurement of pollution
(b) Control of pollution — (mainly Smoke Control Areas)
(c) Other activities such as Conferences and Exhibitions
(d) New legislation
(a) Measurement of Pollution:
The department has five daily volumetric instruments for recording
smoke ahd sulphur dioxide concentrations. They are sited in the following
positions.
No. 1 Gants Hill Library
No. 2 John Bramston School
No. 3 17/23, Clements Rood
No. 4 Croft Lodge Clo se
No. 5 Oak Hall Court
These two latter stations are fitted with eight port valves which
automatically change every twenty-four hours. These instruments are
designed to ensure complete records over week-ends and holidays. 1 hese
two stations are also part of the National Survey being conaucted by the
Ministry of Technology.