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Bonfires and Dark Smoke

Please use the links below to jump to the section you wish to view, or scroll down this page to view the sections in order.

Bonfires from residential areas
Lighting a bonfire
Bonfire bye-laws
Bonfires from industrial / commercial premises
Dark smoke
Links
Contact details

Bonfires from Residential Areas

Although Oswestry Borough Council does not condone the lighting of bonfires on a regular basis, residents of the borough are permitted to occasionally have fires, provided that they do not cause a nuisance to anyone else.

Lighting a Bonfire

Please Remember

Inform your neighbours and give them time to get washing in etc.

Try to have your fire on a day when most people are not outside, i.e. the middle of summer.

Dry, organic material gives off white smoke: Plastics, rubber and polystyrene foams give off dark black smoke. This is bad for the environment and for the air that we breathe. Try to re-use or recycle as much man-made material as possible.

If your property is serviced by regular brown bin collections, try to utilize this service as much as possible.

Nowadays, many waste items can be removed from the waste stream and recycled. Only have a bonfire if you are burning DRY ORGANIC MATERIAL such as garden waste.

Bonfire Bye-Laws

Oswestry Borough Council do not have any bye laws concerning bonfires: This means that there are no set times of day when bonfires cannot be lit. However, if you are causing a nuisance to others, the Environmental Services Department can take swift action to prevent the nuisance occurring again.

Bonfires from Industrial /Commercial premises

Bonfires which are connected with trade or commercial activities are classed as a 'Strict Offence.' The penalties for causing a nuisance are much higher.

If the smoke from a commercial bonfire causes a nuisance to other people then this is an offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The Council can serve a notice to abate the nuisance or prevent it happening again. If the person responsible does not comply with this notice then they can be fined up to £20,000.

Cable burning to recover the metal core is a specific offence under the Clean Air Act 1993. If it is carried out on unauthorised premises there is a maximum penalty of £5,000 under the Clean Air Act 1993 and higher penalties under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Dark Smoke

Dark Smoke signifies that non-organic materials are being burnt. The colour of the smoke shows that environmental pollution is being caused.

The person responsible for creating the dark smoke is liable for fines of up to £20,000 under the Clean Air Act 1993. The Council does not need to serve a notice first , and it does not have to be thick black smoke.

The kind of items that cause concern are plastics, rubber or densely packed wood (eg MDF or chipboard), especially if the wood is painted or treated.

Links

www.directgov.gov.uk
Bonfires and the Law

www.fireservice.co.uk
Bonfire Safety Advice

Contact Details

Oswestry Borough Council
Planning and Environmental Health
Castle View
Oswestry
Shropshire
SY11 1JR

Tel:01691 677222
Email: environmentalhealth@oswestry-bc.gov.uk