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Original poster

Neighbours lit bonfire before 4pm

88 replies

Bonfiredrama · 21/05/2024 21:47

it was a very sunny day last week - I had 2 loads of washing out and my mum and kids were in the garden. Neighbours next door have a 3ft fence between our gardens. My kids were playing near the fence and my mum was sitting out watching them while I popped to the shop around 3.30.

The neighbour had started lighting a bonfire and chucking all sorts of stuff on it from around the garden (my mum said flames were about 6ft high)

My mum shouted over politely: ‘hey we have kids playing outside here and washing on the line, please can you put that out’. The neighbour can’t communicate very well in English but we usually get by with pleasantries etc. She started shouting and saying that my mum can’t tell her what to do and that she was being rude.

the daughter came out and my mum was explaining about the kids and the washing. The daughter screamed ‘I don’t give a fuck about your kids” - with my kids right there in earshot. My 6 year old could easily understand what she said.

I am fuming particularly about screaming in front of my kids. AIBU? What would you do? I have their landlord details but I don’t know what to do next. I don’t really want to go down the council route as we will have to declare it if we move house.

OP posts:
KreedKafer · 22/05/2024 12:44

If they're just burning garden stuff like wood and branches, they're probably not actually doing anything wrong. Yes, it's annoying. Yes, it's inconsiderate not to warn you so you can get washing in etc. But they're not obliged to warn you, or to put the fire out when asked, just like they're not obliged to warn you they're having a barbecue or something.

If they're doing it regularly, that might be different, enforcement-wise.

Crumpleton · 22/05/2024 12:40

One of my DC also live in a smoke free zone, literally a few miles down the road and in the same county.
Shame it's not a county blanket thing.

IncognitoUsername · 22/05/2024 09:53

TheTartfulLodger · 22/05/2024 07:36

Where I live residents aren't permitted to have bonfires in gardens and it is dealt with as antisocial behaviour.

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Where do you live? Nothing like that here.

testing987654321 · 22/05/2024 07:49

Weirdly I live in a smokeless zone so all internal fires have to be smokeless fuel. Doesn't apply outdoors though.

I do burn some dried garden clippings in a chimenea but wait till dusk.

TheTartfulLodger · 22/05/2024 07:36

StormingNorman · 21/05/2024 21:59

There’s nothing to go to the council or their landlord about. They are allowed a bonfire at any time. The 4pm rule is just an urban legend.

I’m sure that this isn’t the first time your daughter’s heard someone swear in her six years. As a Mum, you can let her know the neighbours were angry and didn’t mean it…if she was even bothered.

Where I live residents aren't permitted to have bonfires in gardens and it is dealt with as antisocial behaviour.

VestibuleVirgin · 22/05/2024 07:32

Bonfiredrama · 21/05/2024 22:26

Ok you’re all making me feel better. On the day when I caught the tail end, I asked the dad for them to let me know before they start one next time.

one of my mum’s concerns was that a spark could get over the fence and set the trampoline alight so I think she was panicking a bit. Our gardens are super narrow terraced and with low fences so I can understand the worry a little.

How many bonfire-induced trampoline fires have been in the news recently?

VestibuleVirgin · 22/05/2024 07:30

Bonfiredrama · 21/05/2024 22:22

I like this. Sprinklers may get turned on full blast by mistake.

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Very adult

INeedToClingToSomething · 21/05/2024 22:35

I think that's incredibly inconsiderate OP and can see why you are pissed off. Apart from the things you mentioned, people shouldn't light bonfires that mean people end up having to sit in their houses on hot days with all the windows shut.

LizzieBennett73 · 21/05/2024 22:31

We had a neighbour whose gardener lit a bonfire every tuesday burning the fresh garden rubbish. I rang our local council and they were amazing - came out when one was burning and banged on their door to explain that it was causing a nuisance and that if it carried on, they could be served an enforcement notice.

There is no acceptable time to light one, they're antisocial and an absolute nuisance. Why should everyone around them have to breathe that in and have it all through their house?

JohnofWessex · 21/05/2024 22:27

https://www.gov.uk/garden-bonfires-rules

In particular

You cannot get rid of household waste if it will cause pollution or harm people’s health. This includes burning it.

So if they are burning 'waste' then there may well be an issue

Depends if it happens again but I suggest that lighting it on a warm day with washing out is inconsiderate at best

If they swear then the Police can get involved

If they do it again then contact The Council with evidence eg photo's of what they are burning and the landlords

Garden bonfires: the rules

The rules about having garden bonfires, burning domestic waste, complaining about a neighbour's bonfire, fines

https://www.gov.uk/garden-bonfires-rules

Original poster
Bonfiredrama · 21/05/2024 22:26

Ok you’re all making me feel better. On the day when I caught the tail end, I asked the dad for them to let me know before they start one next time.

one of my mum’s concerns was that a spark could get over the fence and set the trampoline alight so I think she was panicking a bit. Our gardens are super narrow terraced and with low fences so I can understand the worry a little.

OP posts:
OhBumBags · 21/05/2024 22:23

If they put it out while your mum took the washing in, it'd cause way more smoke.

Much quicker to just grab the washing in.

They should've given her the heads up before lighting it though.

Original poster
Bonfiredrama · 21/05/2024 22:23

ManilowBarry · 21/05/2024 22:21

I love bonfires!

Misses point of thread.

😂

OP posts:
Original poster
Bonfiredrama · 21/05/2024 22:22

Kingoftheroad · 21/05/2024 21:52

If I’s a one off then I’d just leave it.

If it happens again them soak it and her with a long hose

I like this. Sprinklers may get turned on full blast by mistake.

OP posts:
TeaKitten · 21/05/2024 22:21

They’d already lit it though so putting it out while you took your washing in would be pointless. It’d make more smoke putting it out. Time to move on from this one OP

ManilowBarry · 21/05/2024 22:21

I love bonfires!

Misses point of thread.

Original poster
Bonfiredrama · 21/05/2024 22:19

longdistanceclaraclara · 21/05/2024 22:14

It's dusk where I am but it was last week op, what can you do about it now?

Maybe I am being a bit over-protective of my mum and kids. I think my mum had a right to politely ask them not to start a bonfire yet while we were using the garden and to let us bring washing in first. It seemed such a disproportionate response from them and I think the teenage daughter should apologise for the language. But maybe I should just accept that there won’t be any apology and get over it 😂 I had no time to think about it over the weekend so I’m now stewing again ha.

OP posts:
TeaKitten · 21/05/2024 22:17

They were inconsiderate but a women who doesn’t even live there told them what to do in their own garden. You can’t complain about them swearing in front of your kids when your mum started it… in front of the kids. She’d have been better off asking for a private word or just taking the washing in.

longdistanceclaraclara · 21/05/2024 22:14

It's dusk where I am but it was last week op, what can you do about it now?

KickHimInTheCrotch · 21/05/2024 22:14

If it was a one off I'd not give it a second thought. Mildly annoying but nothing more. If they did it every Saturday from April to October it's worth trying to reach a resolution.

Original poster
Bonfiredrama · 21/05/2024 22:14

sandyhappypeople · 21/05/2024 22:05

because it's really inconsiderate to start burning stuff in the afternoon when kids are out playing, washing is out around your neighbours properties and people have most likely got their doors/windows open.

I've just done some burning tonight, started about 6:30, but it's gone a bit colder, just starting to spit with rain, everyones washing has been taken in and neighbours around me have their doors/windows closed, otherwise I wouldn't have started.

If she spoke to me like that in front of the kids I'd have put it out with the hosepipe.

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Our neighbour the other side does a lot of dusk /evening ones and we have never complained! Would never complain after about 5pm.

OP posts:
Original poster
Bonfiredrama · 21/05/2024 22:12

FuzzyWuzzyWuzABear · 21/05/2024 22:02

You council bonfire guidelines actually mention vulnerable children and the elderly??

As long as they're not burning anything toxic, the smoke isn't streaming straight into your home or across a road, the council won't be sending anyone out.

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They do, I promise! There’s a big pdf which I’m tempted to print and post to them (not petty at all) 😂

OP posts:
Crumpleton · 21/05/2024 22:09

I have a real bug bear of bonfires during the best part of day light hours, especially on a lovely sunny/warm day.

Why, IMO there's only one type of person that thinks "what a beautiful day let's have a bonfire"...especially when it's burning for most of the day.

Worse still is when you do ask if they'd mind putting it out until later in the day and you're given a load of abuse and told its their garden and they'll do what they like...
They're so thick.
When you then reply yes, I know its your garden to do as you like but could you please afford me the same to do as I like in mine and ask your smelly bonfire smoke to stick to your own garden I'd much appreciate it they suddenly become speechless and look blank in the brain.
Really do think some people shouldn't be allowed to play with matches.

sandyhappypeople · 21/05/2024 22:05

HJ40 · 21/05/2024 21:52

What's the relevance of 4pm?

because it's really inconsiderate to start burning stuff in the afternoon when kids are out playing, washing is out around your neighbours properties and people have most likely got their doors/windows open.

I've just done some burning tonight, started about 6:30, but it's gone a bit colder, just starting to spit with rain, everyones washing has been taken in and neighbours around me have their doors/windows closed, otherwise I wouldn't have started.

If she spoke to me like that in front of the kids I'd have put it out with the hosepipe.

FuzzyWuzzyWuzABear · 21/05/2024 22:02

Bonfiredrama · 21/05/2024 21:59

the Council guidelines are not to cause a nuisance to neighbours by lighting bonfires so not to do it on a fine day when they are using their gardens, have vulnerable people around such as children / elderly (check and check) or have washing drying (check). Interested to see that some people would have no issue with it though.

Show quote history

You council bonfire guidelines actually mention vulnerable children and the elderly??

As long as they're not burning anything toxic, the smoke isn't streaming straight into your home or across a road, the council won't be sending anyone out.