View report page

55
(2) Local Land Charges Register Points out that a Smoke Control Order
(other than an Order covering the whole of a local authority' s area) is
registerable as a Local Land Charge,
Circular 69/63
Refers to the Government's White Paper Domestic Fuel Supplies and the
Clean Air Policy1, issued following the Ministry of Power s review of the fuel
supply situation in relation to Smoke Control Areas, and which sets out the
following conclusions:-
(1) Adequate supplies of smokeless solid fuel for open grates will continue
to be available to meet the needs of existing smoke control areas, including
those confirmed but not yet in operation. Supplies, particularly of the
reactive fuels, are, however, likely to fall increasingly short of requirements
for new areas
(2) Further efforts by producers to increase the output of open- fire fuel and
to switch supplies from commercial and industrial users should improve
matters. It is important that all the producers concerned should take
such action as far as can be economically justified and should also
examine the case for bringing demand and supply into better balance by
price adjustments.
(3) Increased use of closed appliances (including openable stoves) and underfloor-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 Circular points out that in consequence of technological changes in
the gas industry, open grate gas coke can no longer be regarded as the
main replacement for raw coal in future Smoke Control Areas, although there are
in most areas abundant supplies of hard coke and other solid fuels suitable for
use in closed appliances such as openable stoves and boilers and in underfloor-draught
open fires. The Circular further states that where little or
no open fire gas coke is available in Smoke Control Areas it will be
necessary to ensure that only appliances capable of using other available
smokeless solid fuels or gas, electricity, or oil are installed, With a view
to reducing the risk of power cuts in very cold weather householders should be
discouraged from installing, with the aid of Clean Air Act grants, all forms
of electrical space heaters other than storage heaters. In the light of the
Minister of Power's review the Minister stresses that the installation of
openable stoves, under- floor- draught open fires, or fixed gas, electric
storage or oil heaters should now be regarded reasonably necessary' works and
that the full expenditure on such installations should normally rank for grant.
The Circular continues that it is proposed to seek amendnents to the Clean Air
Act enabling the Minister, in view of the increased grants which will be payable
by local authorities if the types of appliances now recommended are installed,
to contribute towards local authorities expenses on discretionary payments
and enabling the Minister or local authority to withhold grant for any class
of appliance where there is reason to believe that their use would unduly
strain fuel resources. Certain other amendments to the Act are also
proposed.