Confront or report

shoulditbethishard1 · 2023-04-29T17:54:43+00:00

I live ok a corner plot, from my back garden if you look diagonally south west there is a bungalow. It’s a L shaped bungalow with a chimney right in the centre. The chimney is not tall at all. For reference we in a smokeless area, due to the fact that they are in a bungalow, alongside the chimney not being very tall when their fire is lit, if the wind is a certain direction is blows directly into our garden. The amount of times I’ve had to shut the kitchen door as the smell is overwhelming. But the most annoying thing is our washing. I’ve had to re wash countless clothes. We thought we’d brought them in on time but just going through washing, inc the kids school uniform it all absolutely stinks and will need to be re washed. I’m so angry and am deciding whether to go around and have a (calm) word with them and explain what is happening or just to report them straight to the council. As I’m looking at it now the chimney is oozing out smoke. AIBU to just report them and go through the long drawn out complaints procedure? what would you do?

bloodywhitecat · 29/04/2023 19:01

I'd speak to them first to see if it could be resolved.

PollyPeptide · 29/04/2023 19:02

Will this stop under the new coal laws coming in on Monday when they have to change to smokeless coal?

MRex · 29/04/2023 19:04

I'd report them, because you clearly don't have an existing relationship to work out their reaction. If they refuse to listen then it gets uglier, but report them and you don't get the hassle.

Original poster

shoulditbethishard1 · 29/04/2023 19:05

PollyPeptide · 29/04/2023 19:02

Will this stop under the new coal laws coming in on Monday when they have to change to smokeless coal?

We are already in a smokeless zone though (as well as a conservation area - but the bungalow isn’t in the conservation area as the house isn’t on the front it’s set right back)

OP posts:

PollyPeptide · 29/04/2023 19:27

shoulditbethishard1 · 29/04/2023 19:05

We are already in a smokeless zone though (as well as a conservation area - but the bungalow isn’t in the conservation area as the house isn’t on the front it’s set right back)

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On the 1 May, the whole country goes smokeless so they will be in the zone! We'll all be in the zone!! 😄

PollyPeptide · 29/04/2023 19:30

Oh maybe I misunderstood. Are you saying the bilungalow is in the smokeless zone and not the conservation area? If they're burning coal that's giving off that much smoke, it sounds like they're not burning smokeless coal. Maybe wet wood? That's illegal from Monday too.

Original poster

shoulditbethishard1 · 29/04/2023 19:48

We are, and have been in a smokeless zone, for many years (the entire area so my house and bungalow are both in smokeless zones) My house is in a conservation area due to being on the same road as a national trust historically preserved property. The house with the chimney is set back and not on the main road so the conservation area doesn’t apply to them

OP posts:

strawberryfluff · 29/04/2023 19:51

Ask them if they can text you when they're putting on the fire so you can get your washing in?

Then report them. It's disgusting and nasty and they should be fined.

Original poster

shoulditbethishard1 · 29/04/2023 19:53

With the smell that emits I’m pretty sure that they are burning just about anything and everything. It’s been beautiful here today, I mean who lights a fire at 3pm on a gorgeous sunny day

OP posts:

WolfFoxHare · 29/04/2023 19:58

I’d report them without confronting them. If you confront them, then report, they’ll know if was you and it they are going to be aggressive, you’ll be a target.

MmaRra · 29/04/2023 20:08

PollyPeptide · 29/04/2023 19:02

Will this stop under the new coal laws coming in on Monday when they have to change to smokeless coal?

Traditional house coal can't be sold from that date but people will still be using up what they've already got in stock at home. Some people on bulk deliveries from a coal merchant will have a whole coal shed full still to use up.

drpet49 · 29/04/2023 20:10

MRex · 29/04/2023 19:04

I'd report them, because you clearly don't have an existing relationship to work out their reaction. If they refuse to listen then it gets uglier, but report them and you don't get the hassle.

I like this approach

PuffinPuffinPenguin · 29/04/2023 20:14

The conservation area is irrelevant. They are breaking the law. I'd report them.

MmaRra · 29/04/2023 20:16

shoulditbethishard1 · 29/04/2023 19:53

With the smell that emits I’m pretty sure that they are burning just about anything and everything. It’s been beautiful here today, I mean who lights a fire at 3pm on a gorgeous sunny day

They could have a back boiler for hot water?

Some houses are cold and damp on the inside even at this time of the year. We have elderly neighbours who light their fires early so it's nice and warm by the evening. Some have fires in all day, and 'backed up' all night, especially with back boilers and no other form of heating or water heating.

Whochangedmynamec · 29/04/2023 20:20

If you report they will ask if you have talked to them

Sinamin · 29/04/2023 20:21

shoulditbethishard1 · 29/04/2023 19:53

With the smell that emits I’m pretty sure that they are burning just about anything and everything. It’s been beautiful here today, I mean who lights a fire at 3pm on a gorgeous sunny day

Me, because I have terminal ill health and am fucking freezing again with the massive temperature drop we've had recently. It's currently 7 degrees and dropping here.

Also the difference in price between real coal and smokeless is shocking. With coal being banned now yet again those that can't afford are screwed.

Between late December and now I've spent approximately £350 each month just on smokeless coal because the walls of my rented 300+ years old cottage are very thick stone and it takes a lot to build the heat up and keep it in and no I can't move because I have a ridiculously cheap rent because of this.

If it comes to it I will (and have done when desperate) chuck in anything that I think will burn - that's the reality of Fuel Poverty and if you dared to pitch up at my door to whinge you'd be sent away with a flea in your ear.

I just want a quiet life and folk like you make that so much more difficult.

MmaRra · 29/04/2023 20:25

How long have you and they lived there, OP? Has one of you recently moved in? I just wondered why it has become such an issue for you just now?

Original poster

shoulditbethishard1 · 29/04/2023 20:28

Sinamin · 29/04/2023 20:21

Me, because I have terminal ill health and am fucking freezing again with the massive temperature drop we've had recently. It's currently 7 degrees and dropping here.

Also the difference in price between real coal and smokeless is shocking. With coal being banned now yet again those that can't afford are screwed.

Between late December and now I've spent approximately £350 each month just on smokeless coal because the walls of my rented 300+ years old cottage are very thick stone and it takes a lot to build the heat up and keep it in and no I can't move because I have a ridiculously cheap rent because of this.

If it comes to it I will (and have done when desperate) chuck in anything that I think will burn - that's the reality of Fuel Poverty and if you dared to pitch up at my door to whinge you'd be sent away with a flea in your ear.

I just want a quiet life and folk like you make that so much more difficult.

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Folk like me??? Who don’t want their kids stinking of smoke just by playing in their back garden? What about their health???

I’m really very sorry for your situation, we struggle with the cost of fuel too. We think thank the lord the weather is better so that we’re not having to have the heating on to dry the clothes, and then being faced with washing it AGAIN - how much extra money is that causing. And you insinuate that I’m the selfish one???

OP posts:

ChocolateTea · 29/04/2023 20:28

I also live in a smokeless area - my whole estate was built on the proviso there were no chimneys and no real fires fifty years ago. Lots of terraced housing

one house out the front of me and one out the back have both had “chimneys” fitted and what I’m presuming are log burners installed.

they must know about the rules as it comes up in the searches and documents when you buy but they possibly didn’t read them (or didn’t care)

not sure what help that is to you - I don’t know either household and haven’t reported them, but have been debating whether to. But they don’t directly affect me if that makes sense so I haven’t. Where as in your case I would report I think.

PollyPeptide · 29/04/2023 20:46

MmaRra · 29/04/2023 20:08

Traditional house coal can't be sold from that date but people will still be using up what they've already got in stock at home. Some people on bulk deliveries from a coal merchant will have a whole coal shed full still to use up.

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But they're in a smokeless zone so they shouldn't be using ordinary house coal, should they?

But I did think its use was totally banned from Monday so I'm really glad I'm wrong, because I'm one of thise with a bunker-full and I was wondering what to do with it. You've made me very happy. 🙂

PollyPeptide · 29/04/2023 20:51

If it comes to it I will (and have done when desperate) chuck in anything that I think will burn - that's the reality of Fuel Poverty and if you dared to pitch up at my door to whinge you'd be sent away with a flea in your ear.

I don't think you can just burn anything in a smokeless zone anymore. So if I were you, op, I'd just report it to the council rather than risk a flea! If you can see the smoke, film it for evidence.

Sinamin · 29/04/2023 21:15

PollyPeptide · 29/04/2023 20:51

If it comes to it I will (and have done when desperate) chuck in anything that I think will burn - that's the reality of Fuel Poverty and if you dared to pitch up at my door to whinge you'd be sent away with a flea in your ear.

I don't think you can just burn anything in a smokeless zone anymore. So if I were you, op, I'd just report it to the council rather than risk a flea! If you can see the smoke, film it for evidence.

Nice goady try. My nearest neighbor is a mile away so any reporting would be immediately flagged up as malicious.

I live in a traditional coal mining area where many, many people are still entitled to their coal allowance and have to burn what they receive so you might want to educate yourself before you show yourself up any more than you already have.

MmaRra · 29/04/2023 21:43

On the 1 May, the whole country goes smokeless so they will be in the zone! We'll all be in the zone!! 😄

Some areas are exempt, some appliances are exempt and current stocks of house coal can still be used up, just not sold. My understanding is wet wood has to be dried out from Monday before burning.

PollyPeptide · 29/04/2023 21:51

Sinamin · 29/04/2023 21:15

Nice goady try. My nearest neighbor is a mile away so any reporting would be immediately flagged up as malicious.

I live in a traditional coal mining area where many, many people are still entitled to their coal allowance and have to burn what they receive so you might want to educate yourself before you show yourself up any more than you already have.

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Im not being goady.

First of all, you said you live in a smokeless zone. Legally you can't burn whatever you like. So if you're breaking the law, malicious complaint or not, you can be prosecuted and made to stop.

Secondly, you said that if the op (ie, someone affected by your smoke) complained to you, you'd send them away with a flea in their ear. So what would the point of complaining to you? If you're typical of people who are burning house coal in a smokeless zone, then it's best just to report it to the council.

I have no idea why you're bringing up the NCFS, the op lives in a conservation zone.

If following the law rather than being abusive to my neighbours is showing myself up, then I'm happy to live with that.

MmaRra · 29/04/2023 22:01

It would take me a lot to report someone. I'm aware that some people are in real fuel poverty and that some people have limited options for heating and hot water, plus stocks to use up, for starters. And then I'd look at the bigger picture in terms of their carbon footprint. Some people think nothing of flying regularly, having several cars in the family, doing unnecessary journeys or leaving the engine running, buying fast fashion and imported food, and replacing toys, clothing and household items on a whim, while at the same time criticising others for having a coal fire. It's hypocrisy. We all have to do our bit to save the planet, whatever that may be.