Talking point

VOLUME 17

NUMBER 3

JANUARY 1979

The Bulletin

Published by the Association for Petroleum and Explosives Administration

Opinions expressed in this Journal are not necessarily the views of the Association

Contents

Talking point ., .................... 57 Notes & News ....................... 58 publications From the B. S . I. .................... 61 Petroleum (Consolidation) Act, 1928 - Some Aspects of Administration .................. 63 Legal Proceedings .................. 66 Has the Time Come for Change? ...... 67 On the Forecourt Doubtful Definitions ............... 69 Correspondence ..................... 70 London News ........................ 72 Book Review ........................ 73 Legal Notes ........................ 74 Explosi ves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 75 A.G.M. 1978 - Birmingham ........... 81

Talking Point

At the time of Local Government Reorganization in 1974, many Petroleum Officers felt that petroleum administration, which had always been something of a Cinderella amongst municipal functions, would at last be allowed to go to the ball. Alas, in many cases this was not to be. Certainly in many authorities sub standard stores were re-appraised for the first time in many years. and the number of appeals from a refusal to issue a licence rose dramatically, but petroleum administratmr continues to be a largely unrelated function administered alongside other more minor enactments in many cases.

Some Petroleum Officers now look for their salvation to murmirings of further reorganization which might result in petroleum administration going to a district level, but this seems, to this writer at least, to be a forlorn hope.

Rumour, much of it of the informed variety warns of a gradual erosion of the powers of Petroleum Officers as many of our present functions are given to other enforcement bodies, (no need to guess which:) under the Health and Safety at Work Act. The same sources speak of conveyance of petroleum spirit by road being the first area to be annexed.

We may find that the writing is already on the wall.

Honorary Secretary: Mr J. Frid, Honorary Editor: J.S. Crewe,