Garden fires/smoke nuisance - the Law?

[tomw2000]

Does anyone know the rules wrt to lighting of Garden fires?

My understanding is that it's not illegal to have garden fires (unless one is buring tyres or chemicals etc), but the resultant smoke can be classed as a nuisance and possible action taken.

We've some particularly selfish/thoughtless neighbours who seem to think it reasonable to light fires when it's a lovely day and we're enjoying the garden, or have windows open or washing out etc.

I just wondered what the actual rules were wrt to garden fires.

[Plotloss]

I don't think there are any hard and fast rules.

We've got one of those incinerator things, it goes on quite regularly but only after dark in Spring/Autumn or after about 9pm in the summer.

[V8mate]

Plotloss said:

I don't think there are any hard and fast rules.

We've got one of those incinerator things, it goes on quite regularly but usually just after the neighbours have hung their washing out

EFA

[tomw2000]

Plotloss said:

We've got one of those incinerator things, it goes on quite regularly but only after dark in Spring/Autumn or after about 9pm in the summer.

If only our neighbour were as considerate as yourself.

I'm going to have to up my "writing really bad swear words across his lawn in weedkiller" attacks, until it gets the point

[Plotloss]

Seems little point to me in having a nice toasty fire in the blazing hot where you get no benefit from the heat and cant see the flames.

[tomw2000]

Plotloss said:

Seems little point to me in having a nice toasty fire in the blazing hot where you get no benefit from the heat and cant see the flames.

Thing is, I seem to manage fine without needing to light garden fires.

Maybe I ought to stop being so considerate?

[V8mate]

OP: does your LA collect 'garden waste'?

[tomw2000]

V8mate said:

OP: does your LA collect 'garden waste'?

Yip. We have a green wheelie bin for garden waste.

(tbh we probably need another, but you know what Local Authorites are like and don't even get me started on council tax ).

[Dan_1981]

I've spent the last fortnight being a considerate neighbour and waiting for wet damp evenings (which makes starting a fire a pain in the arse) or not starting one until well after 9pm, to get rid of our garden shed.

Having a fire is very satisifying i find.

We also have one of those metal bins with holes in.

[V8mate]

tomw2000 said:

V8mate said:

OP: does your LA collect 'garden waste'?

Yip. We have a green wheelie bin for garden waste.

Then surely there's no need to be burning anything in a residential area?

If it's a regular issue, give your local EHO a call and ask for advice.

[tomw2000]

V8mate said:

tomw2000 said:

V8mate said:

OP: does your LA collect 'garden waste'?

Yip. We have a green wheelie bin for garden waste.

Then surely there's no need to be burning anything in a residential area?

If it's a regular issue, give your local EHO a call and ask for advice.

I agree completely. But some people don't seem to care. And don't seem to be able to think beyond the fire and getting rd of their waste (i.e. where the smoke might go and whom it might affect).

[bridgdav]

tomw2000 said:

We've some particularly selfish/thoughtless neighbours who seem to think it reasonable to light fires when it's a lovely day and we're enjoying the garden, or have windows open or washing out etc.

Same here..! Have a word first, or burn his house down.


Info from our local Council : below.

http://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/18AA4E5...

http://www.rushmoor.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=857

Check your own council out for rules, each area has different by-laws. AFAIK

[Simpo Two]

I think a gentle whiff of bonfire is quite nice, and far less irritating than a bloody jetwasher or strimmer buzzing away for hours!

[tomw2000]

Simpo Two said:

I think a gentle whiff of bonfire is quite nice, and far less irritating than a bloody jetwasher or strimmer buzzing away for hours!

Oh don't get me wrong, I too get all reminiscent of chldhood bonfire nights,when I get the smell of a bonfire...._IN_AUTUMN_IN_THE_EVENING_.

But strangely it's not so appealing on a sunny, summer afternoon when I'm sat in the garden reading a book, with the washing out and all the windows in my house are open.

[bridgdav]

Check out:

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts1993/ukpga_1993001...

http://www.lincoln.gov.uk/Info_page_two_pic_2_det....

http://www.environmental-protection.org.uk/assets/...

Everything you need to know

Edited by bridgdav on Monday 13th July 12:57

[tomw2000]

bridgdav said:

Check out:

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts1993/ukpga_1993001...

http://www.lincoln.gov.uk/Info_page_two_pic_2_det....

http://www.environmental-protection.org.uk/assets/...

Everything you need to know

Nice one, thanks for those

[Autonotiv]

Have you tried talking to the bloke?

[V8mate]

Autonotiv said:

Have you tried talking to the bloke?

Speak to your neighbours? Are you mad? It's 2009, not 1949.

You can't just go around talking to people these days. They might be paedophiles. Or worse!

[mechsympathy]

tomw2000 said:

But strangely it's not so appealing on a sunny, summer afternoon when I'm sat in the garden reading a book, with the washing out and all the windows in my house are open.

Have you tried talking to them? He may well be so insensitive he doesn't realise he's causing a problem.

[V8mate]

tomw2000 said:

But strangely it's not so appealing on a sunny, summer afternoon when I'm sat in the garden reading a book, with the washing out and all the windows in my house are open.

You shouldn't really do that. It's a bit... you know.... caaahnsul.