General Election postal votes
If you have not received your postal vote for the General Election on 4 July 2024, please call us on 01305 838299 so that a replacement can be issued.
Smoke nuisance can be caused by a range of burning, but generally comes from bonfires. A smoke nuisance is when the burning is persistent, continuing, unreasonable and affecting a complainant within their own home.
If dark or black smoke is being emitted by a business or trade premises, please report here.
Please note that smoke from correctly maintained and used domestic stoves are highly unlikely to be considered statutory nuisances.
There are other ways to dispose of your garden refuse without having to burn it, such as:
If you have considered the alternatives and a bonfire is still the best practical option for disposing of your garden waste, you should ensure you have taken the following precautions:
Bonfires are only illegal if they cause a nuisance to others and the person responsible fails to comply with the requirements of any abatement notice served by the council. It is commonly thought that there are byelaws banning bonfires or restricting the days or times when they are allowed - this is not the case.
It is an offence to bring waste from another site and burn it, for example tradesmen bringing waste home and burning it. Whether or not they are causing a statutory nuisance, they are committing an offence.
If the bonfire takes place on trade or industrial premises then there is an additional power given by the Clean Air Act 1993 where the bonfire is giving off dark or black smoke.
If the smoke from a bonfire poses a hazard to road users the police have powers to deal with it and you should report the incident to them.