Can you have a bonfire anytime?

Biggles

Charis wrote: »

My neighbour at the end of the garden soon put me straight on that one. There is a by-law that applies to my property because there is a row of trees at the end of the garden that are under a preservation order.
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I saved mine up for bonfire night, like everyone else along here

I think your neighbour's telling you porkies. How exactly are the preserved trees safer on 5 November?

mrs_baggins

I work for a council and deal with bonfire nuisance so here is my penny's worth. Most councils adopt a 'code of practice' whereby they ask that fores are kept to a minimum, not done when washing is out etc, only garden stuff not household stuff to be burned, no tyres or things which casuse dense smoke.

depending on your situation there are not really that many reasons to have a bonfire unless its to get rid of say dry hedging or tree prunings etc as most councils now have wheelie bins or collections or prefer people to compast it if possible,

If you decide to have a bonfire at whatever time of day and a neighbour complains we have a duty to investigate. If the bonfires are say once a month then we would be unlikely to take action but more frequently and we could take action. It all comes down to reasonableness really. If someone has a fire and the smoke goes straight into next doors house then i wouldnt be pleased. neither would I if I have just put a line of clean washing out and my neighbour lights a smoky fire so I have to wash it all again/

sad_dog_lady

heres a question then... fire pits as bonfires... my hubby is a ray mears enthusiast and has done some courses with ray , works on reserves etc

we want to make a fire pit in our lawn for campfire dinners with our kids...
we have awful neighbours.. really really bad... poisioning our animals and the like.. so if we go ahead and make our pit, will they continue to report us ...can the council say its unfair.. or is it just like anyother barbeque and therefore allowed when ever??? p.s we live in a rural village

sad_dog_lady

ps what action... what can the council do? what laws cover what you do on your own land.. i am genuinely interested.

mrs_baggins

if it creates smoke it CAN be classed as a nuisance if your neighbour complains. it depends on frequency and all sorts of things but unless somone is having a barbecue every night its doubtful if your local council will take action. If the worse came to the worse and they took action ultimately they could serve a notice on you prohibiting you from causing the nuisance but this would be very extreme and i have not heard of it taking place

tessie_bear

we used to back on to allotments and they were burning morning noon and night even when it was raining

RAS

sad_dog_lady wrote: »

.. so if we go ahead and make our pit, will they continue to report us ...can the council say its unfair..

What do the council say is unfair, your behaviour or the neighbour's?

artha

A_Clock wrote: »

Just wondering if you are allowed to have a bonfire in you garden at anytime, or does it need to be in the evening? As I would prefer to have one about mid day as the neighbours are all out then. Anyone know if there are laws about it or anything

Not sure about the legal side but make sure the bonfire is under control. I have bonfires a couple of times a year to burn dry material i'e not much smoke but a lot of flame. I always do this at night when there is no washing out and no windows open (as far as I can see). I also always stand near the bonfire and have a garden hose at the ready in case of the unexpected. Despite this on one occasion I obviously got up the nose of one of my neighbours who phoned the fire brigade who are duty bound to respond. The first I knew about it was hearing sirens, blue flashing lights and firemen bursting through my side gate and rushing up my garden. They saw me attending the fire with hose and called on the radio " domestic bonfire, under control and attended" and left without a further word. What a waste of the Fire Service but please make sure you follow basic safety rules and you won't have a problem

carlislelass

after 8pm though now the council takes garden rubbish so no need for a bonfire now.

Finella_2

I applaud all you OPs with such good manners and consideration for others - only wish my neighbours could take note! Lovely sunny days with my washing out and the smoke belches over from the bonfires. Uuugh! Very interested to hear that the council can be asked to intervene. Will look into that one.