Air quality

Smoke Control Areas are designed to control emissions from domestic chimneys caused by the burning of coal and wood inside domestic dwellings.

All properties within the borough are within a smoke control area.

You can find an advice leaflet on smoke control areas in the downloads area.

In smoke control areas it is an offence under the Clean Air Act 1956 (now replaced by the Clean Air Act 1993) to emit smoke from a chimney as a result of burning an unauthorised fuel (e.g. bituminous coal or wood) or to use an appliance which is not specifically exempted.

If you live in an Smoke Control Area you are committing an offence if you:

• allow smoke emissions from the chimney of a building;
• obtain and use solid fuel, other than authorised fuel;
• sell solid fuel, other than authorised fuel, for use in premises located within an SCA.

 There are some exceptions, for example where:

• the fuel being used is authorised by the SCA (Authorised Fuels) Regulations;
• the fuel is being burnt on a fireplace exempted by a SCA (Exempted Fireplace) Order;

Only 'authorised smokeless fuels' are allowed to be used within the borough, these include solid smokeless fuels [such as coke, coalite, sunbright etc],gas and oil. Your fuel supplier will be able to advise you on the most suitable fuel for your heating/cooking appliance. Get a list of authorised fuels and view a list of exempted fireplaces.

Smoke control legislation does not apply to garden bonfires, we do however try to discourage people from having garden bonfires which can cause serious nuisance to neighbouring properties.