Is it an A-hole move to report my neighbour to the police for lighting fires every single day?
Posted by skittlesthesecond@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 103 comments
For a bit of context, I'm largely housebound with a severe chronic illness, so I have to have my windows open to circulate air just so I don't suffocate or end up feeling 10x worse. My neighbour does know this, and I have spoken to him about it multiple times but, he just blanks me every time, which I guess he is in his right to do but this is where it gets ridiculous.
Every single day without fail, he lights his wood-burning stove for up to 8 hours, practically during all daylight hours, often times throughout the night and early into the morning. Twice a week he lights full bonfires in his back garden, and orders huge truck-loads of logs every week to sustain this.
My health has taken a really sharp turn because of this as it means I've been unable to go outside at all or sit in the garden, and I've developed a really painful cough as a result that has been gradually getting worse.
I contacted the council at first, but they offered the generic "we don't really care" response, only to find out that the council did actually reach out to him and gave him some sort of informal notice, to which he angrily turned up at my door basically telling me to stop complaining and that he could do what he wants etc. Since then he's been leaving smoking bins all in his garden directly so the smoke blows into my windows, and also spread things to our community about me generally complaining about me being a NIMBY. When I've spoken to said neighbours, they've all kind of dismissed me as they're not here during the day and apparently burning wood as fuel is the most energy efficient and eco friendly way to heat homes (???)
I have no problem with someone having a bonfire or something else every now and then, but this is just reaching astronomical levels of intolerable. So, main question - would it be wrong of me to complain to the police about this? Or is this just normal?
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated :)
Milam1996@reddit
Nothing the police can do it’s not a crime to have a controlled fire in the garden regardless of how severely it makes you choke. Council are the only ones who can enforce anything and even then they’ll be a back and forth over what’s acceptable and what’s not. Surely if the smoke is bad you need to shut the windows? Closed room air is surely less irritating/triggering than smoke?
DerHoggenCatten@reddit
It depends on your municipality. "Controlled" is often clearly defined by local regulations. Outdoor burns need to be constantly monitored from within a certain distance (6 feet tops) in my area. You cannot walk away from them and leave them burning even if they're in what some people consider a safe burning vessel. Burns also have to occur within a certain distance of dwellings (at least 20 feet away from all directions in my area).
My area also doesn't allow people to burn anything other than clean, dry wood. They can't burn refuse or leaves). OP should see if there are any regulations that their neighbor is clearly violating.
I had a neighbor who set lawn refuse alight in a brick burning pit on the very edge of his property and mine (literally as close to mine as he could manage) and let it burn all night unwatched. It poured out smoke all night and burned quite hot and bright while he slept. This was a violation of our municipal ordinances and I was told after the second time they warned him to call the police and/or fire department if it happened again. It is not safe for people to leave things burning outside for hours and hours unattended.
Milam1996@reddit
Please don’t blurt American AI posts at me. This is the UK. Nobody calls areas municipalities
UnusualActive3912@reddit
No one likes a snitch.
Leader_Bee@reddit
Snitches get stitches.
AskUK-ModTeam@reddit
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when_music_hits@reddit
100% a hole. You suffocate with windows shut?
Defiant_Put_7542@reddit
Try educating yourself.
Yes, indoor pollution is a thing. Every plastic item you own is constantly offgassing into the air. Cooking fumes. The reaction of sunlight with house dust/VOCs can produce ozone. In modern houses with next to no ventilation, it's a huge problem. When it's symptomatic, it's known as 'sick building syndrome' but even in chronically undersensitive people, the same damage is still getting done.
when_music_hits@reddit
If you're conscious of that,don't own plastic?
Defiant_Put_7542@reddit
You just need to know a certain amount about the world. If not to help yourself more directly, then - all offence intended - to not look stupid when you open your mouth.
when_music_hits@reddit
I'm happy to look stupid when i open my mouth, rather than be stupid.
I take no offense. I understand your dig but i really carry no responsibility for your gestures, ownership for your intentions, heartfelt words without any physical actions to support your empty words because i just dont care. There is more or less 62 billion people on the planet and I have no responsibility for any of them other than my wife,son and daughter. Thank you so very much for your contribution. Does it change anything?
Defiant_Put_7542@reddit
Oh wow, you have no understanding that pollution can exist both indoors and outdoors, yet you managed to breed. Why am I not surprised. Well done, I'm sure your supremely intelligent children will be just as much of a boon to the world as you are.
when_music_hits@reddit
I've no desire to change anything other than your projection in my direction, you've been a great help to someone, maybe. And if you've helped the global progenation figures...don't expect me to help your offspring where you're clearly lacking.
when_music_hits@reddit
Why do I need to educate myself on someone elses self imposed problems?
IISHIFTYll@reddit
Don’t think I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing an absolute bunch of low life wet wipes, get a life!
nali_cow@reddit
Why does the stove affect you? It'll be going up and out the chimney, nowhere near your windows. The bonfires/burning plastic is a different matter.
skittlesthesecond@reddit (OP)
Particulates and dust stay in the air and end up settling all over stuff, even if the windows are closed. At least that is what I've found out from my very limited science knowledge
nali_cow@reddit
Sure, but not to a degree that it would affect you acutely in the short term. That is to say, you presumably only know because you're peering up at the chimney to check.
skittlesthesecond@reddit (OP)
Nope, it's usually very easy to smell and sets me off in coughing fits every single time
AussieHxC@reddit
You should not be able to smell anything from a wood burning stove, they are incredibly efficient.
Defiant_Put_7542@reddit
Ridiculous assertion. They cough out more particulates than an HGV. They are a massive source of indoor & outdoor pollution. Burning solid fuel is not in fact 'efficient'.
AussieHxC@reddit
You've clearly never been anywhere near a wood burning stove then.
The efficiency comparison is relative to open fireplaces which are horrifically inefficient and stink.
An open fire is something like 15% efficient whereas a stove is around 80%.
When a stove is burning, you simply cannot smell it unless there is something significant wrong.
Defiant_Put_7542@reddit
I live a boat. A solid fuel burner was my only source of heating before I converted it to run on alcohol fuel.
You are drawing a false equivalence by comparing modern wood burners to open fires, rather than to other forms of modern heating. Or, you know just evaluating them in thier own right by reading some recent studies on the subject.
RobertTheSpruce@reddit
Yes. The police wont do anything. The police don't deal with fires unless there is a crime scene following a fire.
Calm_Wonder_4830@reddit
Police 😂😂😂 I think they have better things to worry about other than Bob, the knobhead neighbour having a bonfire in his back garden!!
Sunshine_cutie4@reddit
It’s worth trying the council again, maybe via a different route (I think complaints are done by category, so maybe this could fit under multiple categories like localised pollution, nuisance, etc.).
I have chronic illness so I understand. I think it is a health hazard for someone to burn plastic.
Are you able to get air purifier & fan & close windows? Easier said than done, cos house needs fresh air sometimes
orddropsandslapshots@reddit
There is no non emergency number for the fire brigade.
I’m saying this as someone who works for one.
You’re mistaken for what is often the “general enquiries line” which depending on the brigade isn’t always staffed and not for emergencies - which a fire that poses an imminent risk to life or property is.
Sadly, based on what OP has said, this fits the description of a ‘nuisance fire’ which by law, firefighters can’t extinguish as it’s not within their powers. The council’s environmental health team do though, and unfortunately the key is to log everything and report every single time he lights up a fire like this. If OP feels intimidated then it’s a police matter, but as someone who works for a fire brigade we see far too often people ringing our general enquiries line - which takes 3/4 minutes to get through, to then wait for a free emergency operator to take the call, provided they aren’t occupied with other emergency calls coming in taking priority over what will appear as a non-urgent enquiry for what could actually be an emergency that should have gone through 999.
With enough evidence - the council will have more than enough leeway to act against the responsible person as well as the police if he’s making threats.
Sunshine_cutie4@reddit
I didn’t say “number”, but you can report non-emergency stuff on your local fire website. I reported something on it previously that was non emergency but related to fire safety and they acted
orddropsandslapshots@reddit
Yeah there’s portals for fire safety for sure - anything like concerns over smoke alarms or wanting a safety check of a home; that’s your go-to. But anything to do with fire - there isn’t a means to report that anywhere other than 999 because a fire out of control is an emergency due to the risks, even if it’s tiny.
I know when questions like this come up people joke about the IT crowd bit where someone reports a fire by email, but it’s happened and more than once.
If in doubt, 999. I promise that we’d attend a false alarm over have someone delay the response to a genuine emergency because they didn’t want to bother us.
Sunshine_cutie4@reddit
Oh I see, that makes sense. Do you think OP has any hope reporting their neighbour burning inappropriate stuff like rubber/plastic? Is it gonna have to be council issue?
orddropsandslapshots@reddit
It’s definitely worth doing in my opinion but mileage varies depending on the council. My brigade straddles various councils and some of them are absolutely brilliant at sorting this stuff, others are… absent. There’s a 100% chance OP won’t get anywhere if they don’t keep pressing though (which is rubbish because they are trying, but the squeaky wheel gets the oil in these cases) and based on their account the fact they’ve already acted in some capacity is a great sign.
The issue under this all though is there’s an underlying civil issue between OP and someone who didn’t seem to be willing to negotiate at all, and realistically that’s not something a fine from the council or even a visit from the police one time will fix.
OP basically has to weigh up if they can tolerate the possibility of this situation getting worse before it gets better and it being something they have to devote time to (unfortunately) or trying to live with this, which if it’s impacting their health isn’t really possible.
skittlesthesecond@reddit (OP)
Already have started collecting videos and documenting it. And yes, I have got three air purifiers but it still doesn't do anything about the dust and particulates that have already settled on surfaces/items around my house.
Sunshine_cutie4@reddit
Ok good! Hopefully fire dept can help
BillWilberforce@reddit
Environmental Protection Act 1991 IIRC.
You need to keep a log/diary of what he's done and how it has impacted you and then contact your local council.
It's not a police matter as long as he isn't burning toxic substances such as batteries, tyres etc. and the smoke isn't obscuring the public highway.
There could be an issue about if the bonfire is too close to the fence, property line or anything that could be combustible like a garage.
thenorthmerchant@reddit
Environmental Protection Act 1990, s.79(1)(b) smoke emitted from a premises so as to be prejudicial to health or nuisance - council Environmental Health (protection) team, if commercial Environment Agency may get involved.
Youre spot on with everything though
BillWilberforce@reddit
Thanks for that, I remembered it from years ago and didn't fancy googling it.
-Rhymenocerous-@reddit
Also smoke cant be.blowing on to train crossings / rail pathways IIRC.
Sunshine_cutie4@reddit
OP said he’s burning plastic though, isn’t that a toxic substance when burnt? And rubber
ItGetsEverywhere1990@reddit
When we had this, it was absolutely illegal given our neighbour was burning household waste. We kept a diary and eventually I emailed my councillor who pushed the the council to act. They advised us to call the fire brigade every time he lit a fire. That happened twice and eventually a tip rocks up outside his house. Problem solved.
BillWilberforce@reddit
In that case it could be police/fire brigade.
doegrey@reddit
OP says he regularly burns plastic and rubber.
CasioJay88@reddit
He's not doing anything illegal. You'll have to suck this one up.
DazzleBMoney@reddit
Unless you were two neighbouring farmers on huge plots of land, I imagine most people would find their neighbour burning wood all day, every day, absolutely intolerable.
CasioJay88@reddit
Sure, but he's in his rights to do so.
DazzleBMoney@reddit
To an extent, it could very reasonably be argued that doing so daily breaches their neighbours rights though, particularly if they have health issues and can’t even open their windows due to it.
TachiH@reddit
Reasonable and legal are two completely different things though. Most people aren't as reasonable as you would expect. If they were doing something illegal it would be different.
DazzleBMoney@reddit
Turns out it is illegal, OP should start documenting every instance of his neighbour burning things a present that as evidence to the council who would then legally be able to serve an abatement notice.
“It is not strictly illegal to burn wood in your garden, but doing it every day is highly likely to be illegal under UK nuisance laws. While there is no national ban on garden bonfires, you can be fined if your fire causes a “statutory nuisance,” pollution, or harms health”
“Key Aspects of Statutory Nuisance Definition: The nuisance must be "prejudicial to health" or "unreasonably and substantially" interfere with a person's property use, according to the Environmental Protection Act 1990, Section 79.”
Sunshine_cutie4@reddit
He is actually, burning plastic & rubber not allowed. But probably civil matter rather than criminal. Fire dept / council will handle better than police though
Bec21-21@reddit
Do you live in an area where wood burning fires are acceptable? Assuming you do, does the chimney from his fire meet local regulations? Assuming the answer to both is yes, the guy can have a wood burning fire going all day 365 if he wants.
The bonfires you might have more luck getting some action on. Bonfires are generally legal but must abide but the Environmental Protection Act 1990.this limits what can be burned.
Rob1965@reddit
Some areas (mostly urban, and including most of London) are designated Smoke Control Areas (SCA). In these areas homes must not emit smoke from a chimney or burn unauthorised fuel (that produces smoke). Councils rarely check whether people are following these rules (and the majority aren’t even aware of them), but if you live in an SCA you can report someone for breaking the rules.
matmah@reddit
It's called statutory nuisance. A bonfire can be considered a "statutory nuisance" if the smoke, fumes, or gases it emits substantially interfere with the well-being, comfort, or enjoyment of a neighbour's property. If a council officer finds a fire to be a nuisance, they can issue an abatement notice, and failing to comply can lead to a fine of up to £5,000 for residential properties
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nuisance-smoke-how-councils-deal-with-complaints
Dusty_Miss_Havisham@reddit
I'm not sure what "offence" you'd be reporting him for tbh... Why don't you try and chat to him and get to know him a little better? If the only interactions you two have are narky disagreements he will avoid you but if you get to know eachother he might be more amenable and see things from your POV? Maybe ask if he would mine reducing the garden fire frequency for example. How much stuff can one even burn?! Maybe even ask him to give you a heads up so you can close your windows on those days. He sounds maybe like an older guy, set in his ways? My dad used to burn rubbish on his allotment. The indoor stove shouldn't affect you if he has a decent flue as it'll rise above your roofs. Meeting in the middle sounds sensible.
skittlesthesecond@reddit (OP)
I would but he is a nasty piece of work. Only reason he started doing this so much was because his wife and kids moved away after she accused him of DV, which didn't go to court but we all saw it happening and tried to report it. I think that sums up the kind of person he is.
Dusty_Miss_Havisham@reddit
Ok fair enough. Not sure why my suggestion was downvoted tho
TachiH@reddit
Not a suggestion about what to do about your neighbours but in terms of the air, have you tried getting an air purifier so you can at least shut the windows on that side of the house?
If he's burning wood there isn't going to be much you can do to stop him so I would look at things to improve your air quality indoors.
front-wipers-unite@reddit
Not at all. Why should your quality of life be impacted by some inconsiderate dickhead.
DazzleBMoney@reddit
Wood burners are banned in some parts of the country, like London, so it may be worth checking if you live within a smoke control area.
https://www.gov.uk/smoke-control-area-rules
If you do then this would give you more leverage in continuing to report your neighbour.
PomegranateV2@reddit
Yeah, I think technically our woodstove is illegal unless we use certain approved fuel. Worth looking into OP.
Also another poster wrote this:
> Fire department also have a non-emergency reporting service and tend to be much more responsive than the council for fire-related hazards.
If I was in your situation, I would be tempted to call the fire brigade on someone who was burning plastic or toxic materials in their garden adjacent to you and other neighbours. I mean... that's their job, right? To put out dangerous fires.
HeartyBeast@reddit
Wood burners that meet defra standards aren’t banned. Open fires are.
jaja977@reddit
How did i enter snitch Reddit
BellendBuilder@reddit
He’s within his rights to do so.
This has actually made me want to go and use my incinerator just in case you’re my neighbour posting.
Update me in 5
WolfNovel5877@reddit
upvoted pal.
BellendBuilder@reddit
Cheers pal. Well it appears they’re not my neighbour or they’d be in a new rage right about now 😅🤣
Sunshine_cutie4@reddit
Can’t burn rubber and plastic, OP said that’s what neughbour is burning
BellendBuilder@reddit
I’m inclined to not believe them on that part.
Seems to me like OP just doesn’t want his neighbour burning stuff and used that to garner sympathy. Especially when not one single person in the neighbourhood gives a toss.
Sunshine_cutie4@reddit
I don’t think OP is lying, but it doesn’t matter whether we believe OP or not. If the neighbour is burning plastic/rubber, the council/fire dept will stop them after OP provides evidence. If not, the council/fire dept will let neighbour proceed. So the neighbour will get what’s due either way
WolfNovel5877@reddit
Go round and have a few cans with him, sit by the fire pal.
MedicalCook6653@reddit
I don't think there's much that can be done about a word burning stove (unless it's being used to dispose of waste for money), but certainly burning plastics, rubber and mixed waste for commercial purposes is a matter for the environmental agency, they do have a 24hr hotline 0800 80 70 60
skittlesthesecond@reddit (OP)
Thank you, might give them a call
Manatsuu@reddit
He’s putting rubber and plastic onto bonfires twice a week? Are you exaggerating? Where would he be getting so much rubber from?
skittlesthesecond@reddit (OP)
Nope, not exaggerating. He has a mate who handles trash and he deposits it at the house as a way of disposing of it. It's usually a mix of tires, plastic bags, general household waste, scraps of wood etc.
Dirk_McAwesome@reddit
If you can show that's happening, through evidence like photos/video of the van dropping off the waste, then that's something the council will be interested in.
Domestic and commercial waste are regulated separately, and the rules are much stricter for commercial waste. Bonfires for commercial waste are strictly illegal in many council areas, especially urban ones. Tradespeople are required to dispose of waste through proper channels.
Lox_Ox@reddit
Speak to Environmental Health. I think they would probably be your best bet?
WGD23@reddit
Statutory nuisance under odour and air pollution, same legislation that closes pubs& nightclubs down for noise.
evtbrs@reddit
You should be able to report it per the Environmental Protection Act 1990 since it seems to be a statutory nuisance. Once you report it to environmental health the council is required to investigate.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nuisance-smoke-how-councils-deal-with-complaints#how-smoke-complaints-are-assessed
“For the smoke to count as a statutory nuisance it must do one of the following: unreasonably and substantially interfere with the use or enjoyment of a home or other premises injure health or be likely to injure health” Should the council find there is no issue, you can still take private action for a nuisance through Section 82 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 by making a complaint directly to the magistrates’ court. If you’re left with no other alternative than independent action however, do as the other commenter suggested and keep a diary of when and how long, and see if your neighbours are willing witnesses… 8 hrs a day someone else must notice it too. A solicitor can help with the correct steps to follow in this situation.
Is the smoke dark considering what he’s burning? I think that maybe gives you some ground to stand on too but I’m not sure. Really hope the council comes through for you, though I worry your neighbour would be retaliatory …
skittlesthesecond@reddit (OP)
This is super helpful, thank you. Unfortunately my illness does mean I can't exactly go around and put together a case against him, but if it gets to a point where I can, I certainly will talk to my other neighbours about it. And yes, the smoke is dark.
ItsShaneMcE@reddit
I wouldn’t have let it go past the one week mark. Someone who is doing it daily is going to continue to do it because they think it’s there world and we just exist in it.
I had to report a neighbour for blasting music like a festival daily because he would start it at 11pm and it would go until 5am I let it slide for 3 days. Then I was like “I need sleep” he was given several warnings and then there was nothing. Not sure if he moved out or had is stereo removed but it stopped eventually
oils-and-opioids@reddit
If his house is heated with a wood burning stove, what do you seriously expect him to do? Are you gonna pay for him to switch to gas or a heat pump? If his chimney is functional and it's legal in your area, that part is fine.
If you can prove he's actually burning plastic and rubber, that would be something the council must enforce because it's against environmental regulation.
I'd invest in an air purifier. A good HEPA one isn't that expensive to buy or run.
HydrostaticToad@reddit
People saying it's not illegal to have a fire are obviously correct but that doesn't mean his behaviour is lawful. E.g. it's not illegal for me to drive my car around the block every day. However, driving in circles around my chronically ill neighbour's house, rendering them housebound is not necessarily lawful.
As for council regs, they usually include some clause about not taking the piss. He's taking the piss. From what you said he's also escalating just to have a go at you personally?
I wouldn't be 100% sure either way but it could possibly be harassment or intimidation, or antisocial behaviour of some kind. I still think it's going to be hard to prove and even harder to get authorities to do anything. Although, it seems to be pretty easy to nail people for libel in the UK so if he's written down any of his defamatory statements about you, like in an app or something ... maaaybe?
There's really no harm in asking the cops about it even if you don't make a report.
Tbqh, I would be genuinely concerned for my safety. Your neighbour sounds like someone whose behaviour might escalate. I hope things improve, this sounds horrible.
No_Ferret_5450@reddit
It’s his right to blank you, it’s your right to report it
a2021username@reddit
Quick answer: No. There are no laws on when a resident can have a bonfire at their home.
Long answer: What the neighbour is doing must not cause a statutory nuisance - However, just because it annoys someone, it would not be considered a statutory nuisance.
I would suggest looking at/documenting to your local council that it's a statutory nuisance due to your health issues.
Maleficent-Win-6520@reddit
There are actually. Garden waste only and you’re not allowed to be a nuisance to neighbours.
a2021username@reddit
Again, no, they are not illegal.
https://www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/environment/bonfires/
https://www.bromley.gov.uk/pollution-control-air-quality/preventing-nuisance-garden-bonfires
https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/environment/environmental-health-and-nuisance/noise-light-smoke-and-smells/how-to-deal-with-bonfires-and-smoke/
https://www.adur-worthing.gov.uk/environmental-health/pollution/air-quality-and-pollution/bonfires-and-smoke/
Maleficent-Win-6520@reddit
Despite your posts having three acts on it 😂
dinkidoo7693@reddit
Report it to the local council environmental health department and the fire brigade as a safety concern every time they light a bonfire.
a couple of years ago someone moved in about 10 houses away and they kept lighting bonfires nearly every evening.
Took the absolute piss, we were all sick of it. Couldn’t keep the washing out. Had to shut windows. Neighbours went round asking them to stop or to at least let people know if they were planing on a fire but they didn’t give a shit.
They were renting and they got evicted.
binarygoatfish@reddit
Government sponsored question to shift people away from something they struggle to tax.
Nebulousdbc@reddit
OP is definitley part of their nudge unit. I've noticed a few ads on various social medias demonising wood burning stoves. No doubt they'll be regulated out of existence in 10 years.
Drwynyllo@reddit
> burning wood as fuel is the most energy efficient and eco friendly way to heat homes
It's not.
Nebulousdbc@reddit
But it's free and the government can't tax it
nemmalur@reddit
I can’t imagine the plastic and rubber on the bonfires is legal. Keep track of every time he does and report it to your local council.
Sunshine_cutie4@reddit
And fire dept, non emergency report via website
fuzzydogpaws@reddit
Sorry this is happening to you. It’s a horrid situation.
To help with your breathing, are you able to buy an air purifier? It won’t solve your problems, but hopefully can make things more tolerable.
Your situation isn’t something I’m knowledgeable about, but I wanted to see if I could find anything to help. That said… Please don’t judge me, I asked ChatGPT…
ChatGPT says:
Guide: What to Do When a Neighbour Burns Waste Daily and It’s Affecting You
Daily fires that produce smoke, fumes or smells which interfere with your home life can be treated as a statutory nuisance.
Why your neighbour’s behaviour qualifies as a nuisance
The council has already issued a warning and the behaviour has continued. This pattern is exactly what councils consider a statutory nuisance.
What you should do next To help the council escalate the case, gather clear evidence:
Mention that a previous warning has already been given and the issue continues. Councils act more quickly when they see a consistent pattern backed by evidence.
What the council can do If the problem continues, the council can:
Seize equipment or take further enforcement action in serious cases A warning is only the first step. Continued burning after a warning strengthens your case.
If the council still doesn’t act You can:
Mammoth-Passion-413@reddit
It would be Council and not Police
doegrey@reddit
That’s the bit you might be able to get him on if you can document it and prove it.
ItGetsEverywhere1990@reddit
We had this with a guy burning rubbish in his garden. Call the fire brigade enough saying ‘THE FIRE IS SPREADING’ or ‘HE IS BURNING TOXIC PLASTICS’ and ya boy might get the message.
Lad_From_Lancs@reddit
I very much doubt this constitutes a police matter, however your local councils environmental health might be interested in this.
It's generally not illegal to light controlled fires, and often no restrictions on how often or when unless there are specific local laws in place prohibiting things like log burners or open fires. There are however considerations regarding levels of pollution and nuisance.
However given what you have said about them already, any action is likely to increase tensions and potential for aggregation so tread carefully what ever you do!
Maleficent-Win-6520@reddit
Contact your council. You’re only allowed to burn garden waste in a garden. Some areas are also subject to extra restrictions. Not a Policing issue.
ClericalRogue@reddit
It can be considered nuisance behaviour and is a council level issue. I'd reccomend reading this: Nuisance smoke: how councils deal with complaints - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nuisance-smoke-how-councils-deal-with-complaints#smoke-covered-by-statutory-nuisance-laws
Independent_Push_159@reddit
Burning plastic or anything non organic, like wood with glues/mdf or treated wood is an unlicenced activity, causes long lived toxic waste and airborne pollution, and you should report that to the council's Environmental Health team as well as the Environment Agency.
DMF_47@reddit
What are the police going to do? He isn't doing anything illegal lol
Slapped91@reddit
I don‘t think you’ll find that the police will do anything as this appears to be a civil disagreement.
Complain to your council, but if no laws are being broken then you are probably shit out of luck.
Ok-Constant-2683@reddit
No, you're within your rights, and "I do what I want" pricks deserve to be told.
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