SteveUK wrote:Unfortunately for Tom, us Nottingham folk are the subject of a smoke control zone restriction. You can't technically even have a coal or wood fire here. Still, laws are there for the breaking if youre a goodfer I suppose.
That is open to debate as the rules (per Nottingham City website) are:
"If on any day smoke is emitted from a chimney of any building* within a Smoke Control Area, the occupier of that building shall be guilty of an offence". *(This includes garden sheds and greenhouses).
The whole of the Nottingham City area is subject to Smoke Control Orders under the Clean Air Act 1993. There are 27 areas within the City boundary with Orders dating from 1 December 1960 to 1 October 1991.
A list of the most common locally available fuels which may be burned in a Smoke Control Area include:- Coalite, Phurnacite, Homefire, Maxibrite, Roomheat, Newflame, Ancit, Sunbrite, Extracite, Gas, Anthracite and Oil.
The burning of ordinary bituminous coal, wood or garden waste, which are not authorised fuels, will create smoke and, therefore, an offence will be committed. An offence under the Clean Air Act 1993 could lead to prosecution resulting in a fine of up to £1000. Wood is not an authorised fuel, but untreated wood (e.g.logs) can be burnt in appliances that have been approved for burning wood in Smoke Control Areas ('exempt appliances', see below).
Wood that has been treated with preservatives (e.g. fencing, construction timber) is not permitted because combustion produces smoke and toxic gases.
So, on that basis, SteveUK is basically correct that technically a wood or coal fire is illegal, the rider has to be added that certain treated wood and coal fuels are however permitted provided they are burnt in an approved device! Even a bonfire is illegal.