[Report 1970] / Medical Officer of Health and School Medical Officer of Health, Rochdale County Borough.

Rochdale (Lancashire, England). County Borough Council.

Date:: 1970

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Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1970] / Medical Officer of Health and School Medical Officer of Health, Rochdale County Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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The Authority's clean air policy which has been languishing for a number of years received a further severe setback in 1970. Because of the rapid expansion of the use of natural gas (North Sea) a severe shortage of coke-based smokeless fuels developed and as a result the Council felt compelled to suspend smoke control completely throughout the winter months until the 30th April, 1971. There is perhaps no single action which the Local Authority could take which would be of greater benefit to al[ the people in the long term than the completion of smoke control for the whole borough. It would benefit personal health, amenity and the environment, in fact it is an essential part of urban renewal in all our older industrial areas and I am only surprised that successive Ministers of Health have not thought fit to make it mandatory at least in the designated 'Black Areas’. It now remains for me in closing to express tribute and thanks to all members of the staff of the Health Department for their loyal and excellent service rendered under often difficult circumstances, to the Chairman and Members of the Health Committee for their constant interest and support, likewise to my fellow Chief Officers and their staffs. 1 have the honour to be. Your obedient Servant, Medical Officer of Health 12th October, 1971.