[Report 1964] / Medical Officer of Health, Benfleet U.D.C., Canvey Island U.D.C., Rayleigh U.D.C., Rochford R.D.C. (South East Essex).

Benfleet (England). Urban District Council.

Date:: 1964

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1964] / Medical Officer of Health, Benfleet U.D.C., Canvey Island U.D.C., Rayleigh U.D.C., Rochford R.D.C. (South East Essex). Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$I'‘roposcd Oil Rcfnterv Duriiif,' the year United Rc'fiiu'ries Limited (AGIL) applied fni ])lanning jicrmission to erect an Oil Refinery at ('anvey Island. I''or some years past the jn'esence of oil refineries and the resultant smell nuisance therefrom, lias been a matter of comment in this report; less so in the recent past owing to remedial measures taken by the oil companies. The apiilication was supported by the Canvey Island Urban District Council and resisted by Benfleet Ih ban District Council. My advice was sought and 1, therefore, in turn consulted a number of experts in this field to whom I am indebted, jiarticularly Dr. P. ]. Lawther of the Air Pollution Research Unit, at St. Barthollomew’s Hospital and Mr. D. H. Lucas of the Central Electricity Research Laboratories. The result of my investigations were the conclusions that in general (a) there was no problem of sulphur dioxide pollution which could not be substantially overcome by emitting gases from very high chimneys and (b) that the problem of smells arising from mercaptan compounds could be sub- stantiallv overcome but it would be unwise to aver that they could be entirely eliminated. The application was made the subject of a public enquiry, the result of which is still awaited. Factories Act, 1961 The following details have been taken from the records of the Public Health Inspectors:— Number of Premises Brn fleet U.D. Canvev Is. U.D. JI(t\'leif;li u. n. Rochfoid R.D. registered Number using mechanical 108 51 62 69 power Number of Inspections 106 51 62 67 made 197 48 10 50 Defects found 39 2 2 5 Number of Outworkers 51 35 38 121 Information required Act will be found in Table in accordance with 5 of Appendix A. Section 1 53(1) of the Petroleum Storage Routine inspections were m.ule in each of the four Districts respecting applications to store petroleum spirit and other inflammable substances coming within the regulations. Licences issued and inspec- tions made are summarised as follows:— Petrol Licences Carbide of Calcium licences Petroleum Mixture Inspections Beu fleet Canvey Is. Rayleigh Rochfm'd U. 1). U.D. U.D. R. D. 43 1-1 24 58 1 7 — 6 1 4 57 49 76 57$