Smoke Control Areas

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Only ‘Authorised Smokeless Fuels’ are allowed to be used within the Borough (common examples are Coalite, Homefire, Brazier), gas and oil.

Smoke Control Areas are designed to control emissions from domestic and commercial chimneys caused by the burning of coal and wood.  They do not apply to the lighting of bonfires.  All properties within the borough are within a smoke control areas.

In Smoke Controlled 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 or to use an appliance which is not specifically exempted.

If you live in a Smoke Control Area you will be 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 a premises located in a Smoke Control Area

There are some exceptions, for example where:

• The fuel being is authorised by the Smoke Control Area (Authorised Fuels) Regulations
• The fuel is being burnt in a fireplace exempted by a Smoke Control Area (Exempted Fireplace) Order

For a complete list of authorised fuels and exempted fireplaces please refer to the websites below.