Does anyone know if there are any rules re: bonfires?

Ellie007

My delightful neighbour has just lit a huge bonfire in his garden. Quite honestly there is so much smoke outside my lounge window that it looks like a plane has crashed out there....

Now I, obviously wrongly, thought that you couldn't do things like that anymore? As a kid, i know you could, but then asbestos and CFC's were also rather popular at that time....:cool:

My house now stinks as I was out the front and didn't see it to shut my windows until it was far too late....

So - is this acceptable? Am I just a grouchy neighbour?

Itismehonest

Some councils have local bye-laws about the times bonfires should be lit. Check your local Council website.

pops5588

I don't know of any rules but to be fair I would be riled also. Even if it was just at the lack of common courtesy to let you know what they're about to do so you can make sure all windows are shut etc.

However going in all guns blazing might not be the best idea. They might have been just a tad thoughtless and will be really apologetic?

WestonDave

Our council website states that it is an offence to create smoke which becomes a nuisance to neighbours and those living nearby. However its probably along the lines of noise nuisance - a one off bonfire won't prompt any action (partly as the council won't get there while its happening unless it goes on for hours) but if you keep a log of incidents and make a complaint they may take enforcement action.

Dimey

In my day the rule used to be after 7pm or on a Sunday but I expect it's different now.

Ellie007

pops5588 wrote: »

I don't know of any rules but to be fair I would be riled also. Even if it was just at the lack of common courtesy to let you know what they're about to do so you can make sure all windows are shut etc.

However going in all guns blazing might not be the best idea. They might have been just a tad thoughtless and will be really apologetic?

I think that is the thing - he is either pretty thoughtless or ignorant. This is another thing in a long list - he's both accessed and put scaffold up on our land without speaking to us, parks his huge builders flat bed truck in front of our house (and our drive) rather than outside his own, starts building work at 7am on a Sunday, and so on......

I think I'll go out for a couple of hours and hopefully it will be out when I get back. He has a lot of timber stacked up beside it that he is chucking on every few minutes so could be a while yet! The weather here is lovely and I was looking forward to a nice glass of wine on the decking when I'd finished my work, but don't fancy smouldering ashes in it!!!

RAS

report him to Environmental Health.

Ellie007

Just hope to God that the fire has gone out by the time 'Husband on a Short Fuse' gets home.....!

RAS

Actually, you need someone to give him the word.

Please report him; I know that our allotment organisers get an earfull from the Council if anyone lights a smoky fire.

Amba_Gambla

Does he do this very often, or is it a one off (or occasional) thing?

Unless he does it all the time, chill out and get over it. Some people are thoughtless, some people have no common sense. It is up to the rest of us to put up with them (unfortunately some times)

Werdnal

I used to get this regularly from a neighbour when my son was little. He was born in the summer, so I used to put his pram outside for his afternoon nap, and atleast once a week, the bonfire would start as soon as he was outside. I spoke to council who said they would only step in as a last resort and I have to confront the culprit and complain myself, then put it in writing to him. If he did not stop, they would send a warning letter.

There are restrictions on what you can burn, but AFAIK, there is no specific timescale, unless you are a business or as someone above said, an organisation like an allotment association, when rules are tighter.

Is this a regular thing? Take a film of it on your camera/phone and keep for reference if it becomes a nuisance, but for a one-off in a private residence, the council have no teeth!