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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect people not to start bonfires during the day?

50 replies

coldwater1 · 13/04/2014 08:39

I have just hung my baby's washing out in the garden to dry and within minutes had to bring it in because someone has started a bonfire! I've had to shut all my windows but my house already stinks of it and now i'm coughing my guts up because i'm already ill and the smell of smoke has got to my chest. People are so inconsiderate.

OP posts:
maddy68 · 13/04/2014 11:00

There are no laws about occasional bonfires. If it was a regular Sunday morning activity by the neighbours then it's a nuscience but otherwise it's fine. All part of living on an estate He/she probably gets annoyed with noise from your children so it's all about give and take

Original poster
coldwater1 · 13/04/2014 11:46

My children are probably the quiestest on the estate to be quite honest! I would not allow them to scream and shout in the garden because i repect other people. No need for a reply such as that just because i have 9 children. You don't know me or how i parent. What ever picture you have of large families in your head is probably not mine, but hey i'm used to small minded people... Water off a ducks back. Grin

OP posts:
specialsubject · 13/04/2014 12:26

obviously a bonfire cannot be done on a wet day. It needs a dry day with no wind. If it can't be done except at the weekend, and you live in an area with lots of people nearby, it probably shouldn't be done. If you live in that kind of area it isn't far to the tip!

we have the occasional one, but we have a large garden backing on to fields, we do it on low wind days (and check the direction regarding any washing) and not at the weekend.

HanSolo · 13/04/2014 12:35

YABU I'm afraid- bonfires have to be done in the day... something to do with the light and the smoke not rising in the dark Confused I read it quite a while ago...

Migsy1 · 13/04/2014 12:35

I don't think it is particularly unneighbourly so long as it is not a regular occurrence. Lots of things annoy us - personally, I can't stand the noise of strimmers or other electrical garden tools. I also hate noises builders make but these things happening are part and parcel of living near other people. A regular and persistent nuisance is not acceptable but I think you just need to chill out over the occasional thing you don't like.

NigellasDealer · 13/04/2014 12:37

it is illegal to light a bonfire in London, has been for quite a few years now

EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 13/04/2014 12:43

I agree, it is very annoying. We've had lots of building work all around us for quite a while - constant bonfires, high-power tools making lots of dust, etc, etc so I've used the tumble drier. This all ended and we had a lovely day a few months ago (I know, we've had some since, but this was the first of the season). I delightedly hung out loads of washing. But oh dear, a new neighbour who had just moved into his home and was doing renovations decided to have the stinkiest, smokiest bonfire in bonfire history. Grrrr. Just thoughtless and inconsiderate.

We have bonfires, don't get me wrong - but always in the evening, after dark, when people have taken their washing in and probably not sitting in the garden trying to enjoy a lovely day.

EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 13/04/2014 12:45

YABU I'm afraid- bonfires have to be done in the day Says who, and since when? I've never heard of that. We always have our b/fires in the evening so as not to disturb anyone.

zipzap · 13/04/2014 13:58

When I was growing up (small town, mid shires, seventies), the times you were allowed to have bonfires was set out in the local byelaws. Might be worth ringing up the council to find out if there are any time restrictions on when theycan have bonfires...

I seem to think that we had a part time fire brigade - and that for the most part it coincided with their hours, which seems like some joined up thinking!

PourquoiTuGachesTaVie · 13/04/2014 14:06

I hope your reply about the children is a joke and I just didn't get it. Confused otherwise that's a bit of an over reaction OP.

I would be concerned about what they are burning if the smoke smells so bad. Dh burns garden waste but it doesn't smell bad... Just smokey iykwim?

ilovesooty · 13/04/2014 14:12

Where did anyone comment on the size of your family OP?

BornFreeButinChains · 13/04/2014 14:15

Its DISGUSTING

Totally and utterly selfish.

I think bonfires should be banned in any built up areas actually seeing as people cannot be trusted ot light them at appropriate times and burn only garden waste on them.

magna

wow, your tomatoe blight takes precedence over people breating clean air?

Would it be possible to bag them up, and take them to tip? or bag them up and wait till novemeber 5th?

BornFreeButinChains · 13/04/2014 14:18

BTW I love my garden and its quite large, larger than average, we have lots of things we could burn we dont, it goes on a pile at the back and rots down.

There is NO need to burn.

Anything else goes to the tip.

I manage to garden and create a stunning garden with no burning.

Original poster
coldwater1 · 13/04/2014 14:18

Maybe i did over react but i spend most of my life having to justify the size of my family to people, receiving rude comments, stares and people loudly counting my kids in public. Gets abit tedious to say the least. Although when people find out i work and study at uni that usually shuts them up. Why i have to justify my life to strangers i will never know.

OP posts:
picnicbasketcase · 13/04/2014 14:21

Drives me up the fucking wall. Lovely bright sunshiney day, hang washing out on the line and some thoughtless tosser lights a bonfire. Because of course the ideal time to stink the place out with smoke is precisely the same time other people might want to sit in their gardens or line dry their washing. Twats.

Original poster
coldwater1 · 13/04/2014 14:22

We have 4 tips near us. One is even walkable! We also have garden waste collected as well as a good recycling service provided by the council so no need to have bonfires. I manage without having them, as do most people.

OP posts:
GrendelsMum · 13/04/2014 14:29

I would have thought that 8am is a considerate time to have a bonfire - earlier than most people are up on a Sunday, surely?

Original poster
coldwater1 · 13/04/2014 14:32

Not round here! Grin I swear most people round here don't sleep!!

OP posts:
WitchWay · 13/04/2014 14:35

This drives me nuts too - a neighbour about 4 houses along does this a lot, often at weekends, often when my washing is out. The prevailing wind blows from their garden to ours Angry

HanSolo · 13/04/2014 21:33

This suggest not lighting them just before dusk... to do with the winds.

I have read elsewhere previously, just can't remember where, possibly in gardening books.

mumteedum · 13/04/2014 22:11

Our town is blinking terrible for this. It's not garden waste. Just know it's cancer causing plastic crap and all sorts. Even our friends sometimes do it! One did thankfully stop her dp from torching old sofa! Hmm

pictish · 13/04/2014 22:13

We had a bonfire today - cooked sausages on it and everything. Lovely!

Rupertandfifi · 13/04/2014 22:14

3 of my neighbours all love bonfires, so it it's not one of them it's another.
One always has one on Xmas day to get rid of packaging Sad
Drives me batshit. Especially when I have put my washing out after a few days of not being able to and my dc are playing out.
On the rare occasion we have had a bonfire, I have been round to the neighbours to let them know we were planning one later that day. Mind you, I do this when we have bbq's too in case they have washing out. It's only polite but they do not return the courtesy.

dwinnol · 13/04/2014 22:28

We've not long come in from an evening around the firepit. I think it's a case of live and let live. I can think of far less desirable neighbourly activity.

maddy68 · 13/04/2014 23:04

I didn't know how many children you had nor how you parents. I certainly didn't make any judgements!
I just said everyone gets on neighbours nerves at times

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