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(5) Estimated total number of Government Department Buildings 1
(6) Estimated total number of Conversions required (Dwellings) 2,178
(a) Private dwellings (assuming 80% of the estimated units
of accommodation require conversion) 1,480
(b) Hackney Borough Council (Powell House) 198
(c) London County Council 500
(7) Estimated Fuel Requirements (Private Dwellings). It is estimated that
each unit of accommodation in the area burns 1 ton of bituminous coal per
annum. On this assumption some 3,058 tons of coke or other smokeless
fuel will be required annually to replace the 3,058 tons of bituminous
coal now being used in private dwellings throughout the area.
(8) Proposed Exemptions for Industrial and Business Properties. It is
proposed to exempt by the terms of the Order boilers and furnaces burning
bituminous coal, provided they are suitably equipped with mechanical
stokers and efficient smoke alarms.
(9) Financial Provisions
Estimated cost of conversions (Based on an average sum of £14
per conversion) £30,492
(a) Owners or occupiers contribution £8,316 0s. Od.
(b) Exchequer's contribution £12,196 16s. Od.
(c) Borough Council's contribution £9,979 4s. Od.
Trade Refuse. The uncontrolled burning of trade waste, often carried out in
very primitive incinerators, continues to give rise to smoke nuisance. The
Public Health Committee approved the institution of legal proceedings, if
necessary, in one case of persistent complaints of smoke nuisance caused by the
burning of wood waste. As I mentioned in my Annual Report for 1957, wood waste
is a valuable fuel, but of variable composition and should be burnt in specially
built furnaces. There are many firms in the district with such furnaces which
operate satisfactorily, without producing 'dark smoke' as defined in the Act.
SECTION 25 (Powers of local authorities as to research and publicity)>
As part of the publicity campaign the Medical Officer, through the local press,
addressed the following New Year message to the residents of the Borough:-
Atmo spheric Pollution
'The following facts concerning the work undertaken by the Public Health
Department in the campaign for Clean Air are the concern of every citizen
of the Borough.
The Hackney Health Department carries out daily tests to determine
the amount of smoke, sulphur dioxide and other pollutants in the atmosphere
- these tests are done in co-operation with the Department of Scientific
and Industrial Research. During periods of dense fog tests are made at
more frequent intervals to determine the increased amount of atmospheric
pollution.
The Instruments which the Department uses and their sitings are as
follows:-
TOWN HALL, E.8 and STANDARD DEPOSIT GAUGE which
measures grit, dust, rainfall
BUCCLEUCH HOUSE, and other matter deposited over
Upper Clapton Road, E.5. the district, and
LEAD PEROXIDE POT, which
absorbs the sulphur oxides in
the atmosphere.