By Jamie Waller, Local Democracy Reporter
A council has u-turned on banning chimney smoke and other forms of burning polluting fuels.
Rushcliffe Borough Council had proposed making the whole borough a ‘Smoke Control Area’, which limits which fuels residents can burn.
However, 80 per cent of people who were asked during a consultation objected to the plan.
Concerns included the expense of cleaner fuels and new appliances during the cost of living crisis, with some people feeling the measures were “disproportionate” for the benefits.
There was also worry about the lack of alternatives for rural residents whose homes aren’t connected to gas, some of whom still rely on burning fuels for cooking and heating.
Currently, the only parts of Rushcliffe in a Smoke Control Area are parts of West Bridgford and Edwalton, under orders dating back to the 1970s and 80s.
A council committee had expressed interest in extending this to the full borough during a meeting in October 2023.
A total of 1,206 people took in the public consultation to determine support, which ran between January and March.
Around 20 per cent agreed with the proposals to improve air quality and help people who suffered from asthma and similar conditions.
However, the majority of people were against it.
A report going before Cabinet next week (May 14) will recommend not making any changes, and instead launching a public awareness campaign about burning fuels.
Smoke Control Areas were introduced by the Environment Act 2021 to reduce the amount of particle matter released from burning and improve air quality.
A local authority is able to set a civil fine between £175 and £300 for breaching the rules.
A small number of smokeless fuels are exempt, including gas, low volatile steam coal and anthracite.
It is also illegal to buy or sell unauthorised fuel for use within a Smoke Control Area, with a possible fine of up to £1,000.
Wood-burning and multi-fuel stoves are exempt from the rules, as they are considered to be low-smoke generating.
