to think people having bonfires on warm sunny days deserve to be shot

[difficultpickle]

This is a light hearted thread. I don't genuinely think they should be shot but would be happy with them and their bonfires being sprayed with water (if we didn't have a hose pipe ban).

I am fed up that having all my washing out drying I can now smell a bonfire that is so acrid it is making my eyes smart. Every sodding time we get a bit of sun this happens.

Is it BBQ? I do have bbqs but I always check my neighbours have no washing out and would only do it in the evening in case they wish to wash!

I never ever have a bonfire as I do not want to upset the neighbours they are scary

What are the actual 'rules'?

Yep, I agree. Line 'em up!

There are no rules.

But out of consideration people should wait until the evening so washing can be taken in etc.

What are the actual 'rules'?

Hmm, I'd say pick your times for such things.

Wouldn't after dark be acceptable for bonfires? When clothes have been taken in and most people aren't in gardens anymore?

Ha ha ha ha our neighbours have just lit their BBQ better get the washing in!

Our council won't act on a one off bonfire but if it is a persistent thing they take action. They consider it an unnacceptable method of getting rid of waste.

*unacceptable

Well they should collect recycling more then once a bloody fortnight then!

I actually don't mind BBQs as the smoke isn't toxic like burning any old waste.

People around here have a lot of bonfires. So many in fact, I keep wondering if they're burning evidence of some sort...

We only burn cardboard and paper and sometimes hedge trimmings.

I wouldn't trust myself to have a bonfire. I'd quite like a chimenea or a fire pit though.

I thought you could only light them after 6 or something. .

Just had a google and I stand corrected, there is no law that dictates times.

that learnt me

There are no rules.

www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/InYourHome/Escapingandrecoveringfromafire/DG_180786

just be glad you don't live here where the neighbours not only have pigs (in a residential area) which often smell after it's been rainy but is then sunny enough for washing, but they also seem to enjoy burning pig crap too - usually when I've got 3 loads of washing on the line - grrrr!

It's very difficult if you've got a lot of garden waste, though. Bonfires do get rid of large quantities of garden waste in a way that other methods don't.

I know. I am still struggling to avoid a bonfire, but I think I may have to give up. I have done 5 trips to the tip (20 mile round trip - that's now 100 miles of driving to avoid a bonfire), plus 5 wheely bin fulls and the pile of garden waste is still vast.

Rather a bonfire than a BBQ.

Some peopel don't take their washing in until they are about to go to bed, so what are you supposed to do then?

I have ever had a bonfire, bit our council has just forced us to put all our weekly landfill rubbish in two teeny tiny bags, and althought they collect recycling every week, there is a lot of recyclable stuff that they don't let you recycle in the weekly collections. I'm not wasting money or time making the hour long round trip to the tip, so a bonfire may be on the cards soon. Councils encourage bonfires because of the crap collections.

Yes, shoot them! Here every time the weather is nice enough to open up the house for an airing, some silly sod starts his bonfire and the house stink worse than ever! I gave up completely on hanging out washing.

Blimey, where I am in Sweden having a bonfire on a hot summers day would result in a visit from the fire brigade and the police. Not allowed. Ever. Under any circumstances. On pain of death.

There was a spark off a passing train last year which started a forest fire. Twas very, very scary. Especially when the police started directing us to prepare for possible evacuation.

I checked with the local council a couple of years ago and they said they could only do it if it was a nuisance, ie frequent repeated occurrence. Unfortunately it is a particular house a few doors down. Their garden goes from the street behind to level with the back of my house. It means when their hired help gardener has a bonfire it is at the end of the garden but level with my back door. We have a green waste collection but I assume they never use it. It is every Friday throughout the summer unless it is raining.