Pollution prevention and control
London Port Health Authority (LPHA) is a regulator under the
Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 (the
Regulations). for Part A2 and Part B Processes in it's area.
Download guidance
from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs (Defra) website.
The Regulations deal with emissions of pollutants from
industrial processes, these processes are categorised under the
Regulations as Part A1, Part A2 or Part B processes.
Part A1 processes are regulated by the Environment Agency.
LPHA regulates Part A2 and Part B processes. For Part A2
processes emissions to all environmental media are controlled
including emissions to air, land and water as well as noise and
vibration from the plant. Emissions to air are the only subject of
control for Part B processes.
We regulate one A2 process involving the grinding of cement
clinker. Part B processes regulated include bulk cement
discharge, storage and distribution, timber processing and vehicle
re-spraying.
The Public Register provides details of the
installations that are regulated by the LPHA and are shown in the
following list of processors.
Click here to download the List of Part B
processors PDF (338kb)
If you wish to view the Public Register, please
contact Environmental Health Support Services Section on 020 7332
3630 or by email.
Each process is issued with a Permit that contains conditions
with which the process operator must comply.
The Permits for individual processes are currently being updated
but will be made available on this page in the near future.
Download the Application forms from
the Defra website
Visit the Defra website for further
details about pollution prevention and control.
The Environment Agency is responsible for maintaining or
improving the quality of fresh, marine, surface and underground
water in England and Wales, including the River Thames. More
information can be found at
The Environment Agency's Water Quality web
pages.
Noise control
Noise control is also an important part of the Authority's
enforcement role. Problems can occur with Thames disco
launches particularly when operating after midnight. Many of
these vessels have been fitted with noise limiting devices but
unless these are correctly used unacceptably loud music may result,
causing disturbance to the public.
Another source of noise is metal to metal contact noise
from barges in the river which is generated in certain weather
conditions and by vessel movements. This can be reduced by the
use of effective fenders.
Other enforcement responsibilities include the control of odour
emission from certain port industries and the monitoring of refuse
handling on the river.
For further information or to report a complaint or
problem
contact the Charlton Office.
Catering waste from vessels
Catering waste from vessels arriving at ports is subject to
certain controls and restrictions.
All international catering waste must be kept separate and
identifiable and must be marked Category 1 By-Product for
Disposal Only. If it is mixed with other waste, then the
whole amount must be dealt with as international catering waste.
This waste must be directly transported to an approved disposal
site in dedicated covered, leak proof containers. Further
information and advice can be found
on the APHA website.
Seaports should have Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) approved
facilities for the reception of this waste from vessels. Contact
details for the major UK sea and air ports are available
on the APHA website.
Information on international catering waste (ICW) on the Defra
website.
The Port of London Authority has further information about their
waste management plan and waste reception facilities on
their website.
Houseboats
There are a number of residential houseboats/moorings in the
London Port Health Authority (LPHA) District. Although a
significant number of houseboats are permanent floating residences,
many are occupied only at weekends and seldom move whilst others
may periodically leave the moorings for short cruises.
The various moorings stretch from
Broadness Creek and Benfleet Creek in the lower part of the LPHA
district up to Twickenham in the upper part. Many of these are Port
of London Authority (PLA) licensed moorings which also have
Riparian Local Authority planning approval for their existence,
whilst others have neither. Houseboats moored at PLA licensed
moorings are generally connected to mains drainage whilst
others may not be.
Apart from the Environmental Protection
Act 1990 the public health law relating to houseboats dates back to
Bye-Laws made by the City of London as the Port Sanitary Authority
for the original Customs Port of London under Section 95 of the
Public Health (London) Act 1891
These Bye-Laws were made for promoting
cleanliness, preventing the spread of infectious disease by persons
and generally for the prevention of nuisances in connection with
houseboats used for human habitation.
The provisions of these Bye-Laws have
been largely superseded by more up-to-date but less specific
public/environmental health legislation.
For further advice on water supply and
disinfection or to report a complaint or problem
contact the Charlton Office.
Health & Safety Guidelines
The Thames Explorer Trust has produced health and safety
guidelines for groups organising visits the Thames foreshore
from their
website.