Page 2 | 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?

PollyPeptide · 29/04/2023 22:05

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.

House coal mined in Forest of maybe Dean?, I can't remember, is legal to be sold and used locally.
Certain wood burners are exempt.
But I think the overwhelming majority of us will be moving to smokeless coal. And of course, it will cost us more. I shall eke out my remaining house coal!

Mischance · 29/04/2023 22:06

Could it be that they do not realise the nuisance it is causing? - that would seem the best place to start. They need a chance to try and find a way to put it right before you start reporting them. It is not about "confronting" but about having a civilised conversation about the problems you are having. I see no point in going in all guns blazing.

MmaRra · 29/04/2023 22:10

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. 🙂
Glad to be of service. I do think though, rather than thinking 'I'm alright, Jack' , a little compassion and understanding for people not in your more fortunate position, such as a pp, might be a good idea. The law is the law, but it is a blunt tool and not always right.

MmaRra · 29/04/2023 22:14

Mischance · 29/04/2023 22:06

Could it be that they do not realise the nuisance it is causing? - that would seem the best place to start. They need a chance to try and find a way to put it right before you start reporting them. It is not about "confronting" but about having a civilised conversation about the problems you are having. I see no point in going in all guns blazing.

This is good advice.

Sinamin · 29/04/2023 22:14

PollyPeptide · 29/04/2023 21:51

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.

Show quote history

Are you the OP with a name change fail?

I think you are otherwise why would you be replying on their behalf.

Well busted @shoulditbethishard1

I'll burn what I like. It will never be an issue because I have no neighbours but if I had to live like townie whingers like you with no idea I'd still burn what I need to save me dying from hyperthermia just so you could land grab my home.

Original poster

shoulditbethishard1 · 29/04/2023 22:18

Omg you are so paranoid, report the post then and admin will tell you that myself and @PollyPeptide are totally separate people!

I was in fact going to reply but you responded to a quote from someone else so I left it alone

OP posts:

Bluebells1970 · 29/04/2023 22:18

There is a very persistent bonfire lighter close to us and the amount of times that I had to bring washing in and rewash it drove me absolutely mad, and it was always on a nice sunny day when you'd got the doors and windows open. The smoke was choking and not just garden rubbish.

I contacted the local council, and kept on doing so - i knew the man by 1st name after a few months. I also posted onto the local FB page playing ignorant about where it was coming from. 3 other people PM'ed me and I encouraged them to also report. Once that happened, they were served an enforcement notice... and then another a few weeks later. Touch wood, we've not had one yet this year so I'm hoping that it's worked.

PollyPeptide · 29/04/2023 22:21

Sinamin · 29/04/2023 22:14

Are you the OP with a name change fail?

I think you are otherwise why would you be replying on their behalf.

Well busted @shoulditbethishard1

I'll burn what I like. It will never be an issue because I have no neighbours but if I had to live like townie whingers like you with no idea I'd still burn what I need to save me dying from hyperthermia just so you could land grab my home.

Show quote history

🙄 You can't name change fail. Mumsnet automatically changes your name to that of any previous posts.

You can burn what you like. I think the fine is £1,000. Don't worry, I'm sure it'll be lower for your first offence.

PollyPeptide · 29/04/2023 22:28

MmaRra · 29/04/2023 22:10

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. 🙂
Glad to be of service. I do think though, rather than thinking 'I'm alright, Jack' , a little compassion and understanding for people not in your more fortunate position, such as a pp, might be a good idea. The law is the law, but it is a blunt tool and not always right.

That poster was rude. The op explained her situation and how it was causing her problems. She too might be struggling to pay her electricity bills, raised by keep having to rewash clothes. Instead of replying and just explaining their difficult situation for context, the poster decided to be aggressive. The op didnt deserve that.

And by the way, you don't know what my situation is. Having a bunker of house coal is hardly the byword for a fortunate position.

Rockatoundacroc · 29/04/2023 22:42

Some people only have a coal fire & no central heating

Do you expect them to live with zero source of heat ?

OliveWah · 30/04/2023 00:03

I would go straight for reporting them too OP, no point risking a confrontation with people you have to live near when it could all just be sorted through official channels. It would drive me mad having to rewash clothes all the time, I'd be sending an email tonight and following it up with a call on Tuesday!

flexigirl · 30/04/2023 00:28

We have a wood burner and only use eco coal / smokeless coal and also wood: you can still smell our fire outside the house so there's a very good chance they are already using smokeless fuel

dinkledo · 30/04/2023 00:55

Speak to them first, I wouldn’t risk unnecessary animosity

Original poster

shoulditbethishard1 · 02/05/2023 13:23

I've reported today. I was going to talk to them but then literally 5 minutes after I started putting my washing out smoke started to stream out of the chimney. I swear to god someone is effing sat there watching and waiting for me to start putting it out.

nobhead

OP posts:

PollyPeptide · 02/05/2023 21:01

Good for you. I don't blame you.

PissedOffNeighbour22 · 02/05/2023 21:29

We have the same with our neighbour. Unfortunately he's attached to us but much lower than our house so his smoke pours into our garden.

God knows what he burns but it's absolutely nothing to do with fuel poverty in his case. We reported it to the council last year and he got a letter but have been seeing how it goes for now. But I'm fed up of not being able to use my garden or let the kids out to play. Can't open windows, can't dry washing outside - and with 2 very small children it's costing a fortune using the tumble dryer at least once a day.

He's also a twat, so can't be dealt with by having a reasonable chat.

IamSuperTired · 02/05/2023 21:39

Sorry to gate crash the thread, but what are the new rules? Can I still burn wood? I love my fire and we need it to keep warm :)

(We live in a bungalow hope we r not your neighbours OP! We don't burn coal so hopefully not!)

PollyPeptide · 02/05/2023 23:09

@IamSuperTired I think burning wood is fine. It's burning wet wood that is the problem and now illegal. (There are probably exemptions - there always are!)