Environmental Protection UK

Papers of Environmental Protection UK, founded as the Coal Smoke Abatement Society in 1898. The collection consists of:

Minutes from 1890; annual reports; press cuttings; conference proceedings, 1905-1998; divisional papers; papers from seminars and workshops, 1972-2000; letter books of the engineer James Gilbertson; journals of the Society, The Journal of the National Smoke Abatement Society, Smokeless Air, Clean Air; Briefing bulletins published by Environmental Protection UK; Clean Air Yearbook 1931, 1947-1976; Members Handbook, 1977-2003; miscellaneous reports and papers on the subject of air pollution and smoke abatement; promotional and educational materials produced by the Society; record book of nuisances and complains, 1938-1946; photographs.

1847-2011

59 boxes

Arranged into sections A-K as follows:

A: Meetings

B: Letters of James Gilbertson

C: Regional divisons

D: Press cuttings

E: Annual reports and accounts

F: Conferences, exhibitions and workshops

G: Papers

H: Publications of the Society

I: Photographs

J: Promotional films

K: Ringleman Telesmoke

This archive was transferred from the Brighton offices of EPUK in Jan 2012

Founded as the Coal Smoke Abatement Society (CSAS) in 1898; instrumental in the introduction of the 1926 Public Health (Smoke Abatement Act) and the 1956 Clean Air Act (following the Great London Smog of 1952);as the menace of coal smoke receded, the Society changed its name to the National Society for Clean Air (NSCA), and in the 1970s began to campaign vigorously on air pollution from industry and, increasingly, transport.; one of the biggest achievements of the Society after the Clean Air Acts was the development of the concept of Local Air Quality Management and the incorporation of this in the Environment Act 1995. The organisation has also made a significant contribution to policy and practice in managing noise pollution: in 1984 the National Noise Committee was established. The Land Quality Committee was formed in the late 1990s and has provided a unique forum for discussion on issues surrounding the implementation of the Contaminated Land Regime (Part 2A), bringing together both regulators and industry: the Committee has also addressed related issues through sub groups, such as soil, waste and brownfield regeneration. The name changed to Environmental Protection UK in 2007; following financial difficulties, the organisation ceased to operate as a fully staffed and funded organisation in 2012. Since 2012, EPUK has been entirely volunteer-run.