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76
FLUORIDATION
The Council's position regarding fluoridation is as set out in my
last report.
CLEAN AIR
In my annual report of last year I drew attention to the high
levels of sulphur dioxide within the Borough and within Inner London
generally. Since that time the Corporation of the City of London have
introduced legislation to ensure that low sulphur content oil is used
in greater quantities in boiler houses within the City.
Some benefit from this action will be gained by the residents of
this Borough due to the lessening quantities of sulphur dioxide blown
into the Borough by the prevailing wind. This benefit may only be
marginal, and in order to get a real and substantial improvement in
London generally, this legislation should apply to the Greater London
Area as a whole. Again I draw attention to the present high levels of
sulphur dioxide within the Borough. It is hoped that Hackney Council
will consider recommending the London Boroughs Association to press for
inclusion of suitable legislation in a Greater London Council (General
Powers) Bill for the extension of these powers to all London Authorities.
During the year a number of soil samples and fibreglass filters
were submitted to the Public Analyst for report on lead content. This
investigation will be continued during 1972, so that background information
is available on the atmospheric lead content. Eight notifications
were received during the year of furnace installations and two
approvals were given regarding the height of newly constructed chimneys.
PUBLIC HEALTH ACTS
Twenty one Notices under the Public Health (Recurring Nuisances)
Act 1969 were served.
The number of drainage applications received during the year
totalled 544, the highest number ever received and more than double
the previous years' total.
Each application and the accompanying drawings were carefully
scrutinized and in a number of cases Architects, Surveyors or Builders
had to be interviewed or communicated with and the application amended
before final approval could be given.