An air pollutant is any substance in the air that could harm people or the ecosystem. Pollutants can be solid particles, liquid droplets or gases and can be either man-made or natural. They include particulate matter, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone. Air pollution tends to be higher in towns and cities where sources of pollution, such as road traffic, are more concentrated.
If your health is good, the levels of air pollution we usually experience in the UK are unlikely to have any serious short-term effects. But on the rare occasions when air pollution levels are high, some people may feel eye irritation, others may start to cough, and some may find that breathing deeply hurts, particularly during exercise or outdoor activities.
Those most susceptible to serious health problems from air pollution are people with heart disease or lung disease, pregnant women, young children, the elderly and those who work outdoors.
More information on air pollution can be found in Policy paper published on GOV.UK page.
More information about air pollution and how it can impact health can be found on DEFRA website.
There is nothing in law to say that people can’t have domestic bonfires. However, what you are not entitled to do is cause a statutory nuisance. The council receives many domestic nuisance complaints every year, and smoke from bonfires is one of the most common complaints.
Bonfires can be very annoying to neighbours and can give rise to a statutory nuisance if it is regular, prolonged or the materials being burned don’t lend themselves to a good ‘clean’ burn. The smoke, ash and smells may prevent your neighbours from enjoying their gardens, opening windows or hanging out washing. Smoke can also reduce visibility on roads if a bonfire is not properly controlled or the wind is strong in a particular direction.
It is an offence to burn commercial or trade waste without a Waste Exemption Certificate issued by the Environment Agency.
It is also an offence to produce and release dark smoke from fires at industrial or commercial premises.
Bonfires will give rise to air pollution and there are better ways to dispose of waste. However, if you do have a bonfire there are things you should be aware of which could make it more problematic and unpleasant for those living around you.
Smoke is an inevitable by-product. More smoke will be generated if the waste is damp or the waste is not organic eg plastic coated, rubber, painted materials, chipboard, MDF and other treated timber. Smoke will always contain compounds such as carbon monoxide, dioxins and particulates. Burning plastic, rubber or painted materials will not only create an unpleasant smell, but will also produce poisonous chemicals.
Air pollution in the UK often reaches unhealthy levels particularly in the summer months. For anyone suffering with existing health effects such as respiratory conditions eg asthma and bronchitis (amongst others), people with heart conditions, the young and the elderly, exposure to smoke may make breathing difficult and cause the onset of symptoms, or cause complications to those pre-existing conditions.
Instead of burning garden waste or putting raw vegetable waste in the dustbin consider using caddy weekly food waste collection or getting a compost bin that can be purchased online. The composted waste will produce a useful soil conditioner, saving money on commercial products.
Bulky vegetation can be shredded to make it suitable for composting or mulching. Shredders can be bought or hired and some allotment societies have their own.
The council offers a kerbside garden waste collection service. This is the ideal way to dispose of grass cuttings, cut flowers, hedge clippings, weeds, leaves, twigs, pruning’s and fruit fall.
For more information, please visit Garden waste collection page.
Alternatively, green garden waste can be taken the Household Waste Recycling Centre at Wade Road, Basingstoke. The green waste is composted in long heaps called windrows for 20 weeks and turned so it breaks down evenly. The finished product called Pro-Grow, a high quality soil conditioner, is available to buy at every recycling centre.
For small orders of soil condition visit the Pro-Grow website , to place a larger order or to contact Pro-Grow visit the Contact us page.
Bonfires can be dangerous as fire can spread to fences or buildings, and can scorch trees and plants. Exploding bottles and cans are a hazard when rubbish is burned. Think carefully about the materials on it and where it is located.
An effective way of dealing with this type of issue can be to speak to your neighbour about the problem. However if you are feeling agitated we would advise against doing so while you felt like this. Try and explain the problem calmly to your neighbour – they may not be aware of the distress they are causing. Hopefully chatting to them about it will make them more considerate in the future.
If you don’t get a positive response, aren’t happy to speak to your neighbour or the problem persists and is regular, please report it using the form below:
We will look into this for you and take action if we can. If we cannot take action, you may be able to take legal action yourself. The leaflet below details how can take your own private action against nuisances.
It is an offence under the Highways (Amendment) Act 1986 to light a fire and allow smoke to drift across the road. If you have a problem with anyone lighting a fire and allowing the smoke to drift across the road, please contact the police on 101.
Barbecues can also cause a smoke problem, especially if you use lighter fuel. To reduce the environmental impact you might consider switching to electric BBQs. Be considerate of your neighbours. It is advisable not to light it when the washing is out or when it's windy, check that smoke won't blow straight into neighbouring properties.
For more information check GOV.UK webpage Reducing air pollution from outdoor burning
From time to time, smells and odours occur in the areas that we live that we would rather be without. Some odours are part and parcel of the environments we live in, other are not. When odour is significant and is regularly and persistently affecting people in their homes and workplaces, it can be considered an odour nuisance.
Odours from industrial or commercial activities as well as from some (The Environment Agency are the primary regulator for the Chineham sewage treatment works, and Thames Water operate under a permit issued to them by the Environment Agency) sewage treatment works are an example of this and can be reported:
Complaints regarding odour from the Chineham Sewage Treatment works should initially be directed to Thames Water by reporting it online or by calling their customer contact centre on 0800 316 9800 so they can investigate the issue.
Alternatively, if the issue persists report it online to the Environment Agency or by calling their customer contact centre on 0800 80 70 60.
You may find that the smell coming from a sewage treatment works, for example will vary according to the weather – warmth and a change in wind direction can have unwanted but not unexpected effects.
Artificial light is essential and we all use it for many different things including:
However, increased use of lighting has resulted in problems. Light in the wrong place at the wrong time can be intrusive and there have been more complaints about light pollution in recent years.
Light pollution can be described as artificial light allowed to illuminate, or pollute, areas not intended to be lit. It consists of several elements:
To view light pollution and dark skies map visit CPRE website.
The extent of light pollution can be dramatically reduced by a number of simple inexpensive measures. And you can play your part in reducing complaints of light pollution.
Ask yourself whether:
If you are bothered by a light source, approach the person responsible for it and explain your concerns politely and calmly. You may find this difficult, but they might not be aware of the distress being caused. Chatting to them about it may result in a solution. A minor adjustment may be all that is required or an agreement about when the lights should be on.
An alternative solution could be to consider mediation. For further information visit UK Mediation website.
The best method of dealing with light pollution is at the planning stage of new developments. This is an ideal time to influence the design or installation of lighting schemes. However, only developments involving building engineering or making material changes to existing buildings or land require planning consent.
If you have concerns about proposals that may contribute to light pollution, please contact the council’s planning and development team:
Under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 and Environmental Protection Act 1990, some types of light pollution can now be designated a statutory nuisance, if it is proved to be prejudicial to health or a ‘nuisance’. This includes ‘light trespass’ where particularly bad lighting from a property affects a neighbour. It excludes light from sources such as airports, railway and bus stations, goods vehicle depots, lighthouses, defence premises and prisons.
You may be able to take private action for nuisance regarding a lighting problem, if you can show to a court that you are being unreasonably disturbed. A nuisance can be described as ‘a substantial interference with an individual’s use and enjoyment of his or her property’. If you wish to follow this route, we advise you to contact the Citizens’ Advice Bureau or a solicitor, to find out what action may be appropriate to deal with your complaint.
The following organisations provide information on light pollution:
The Office for Environmental Protection
The Environment Agency is responsible for monitoring river water quality, controlling discharges into watercourses and for dealing with pollution incidents. Call the Environment Agency incident hotline to report water pollution by telephoning 0800 807060 (24 hour service).
Please see the following general advice on ways to avoid water pollution:
Water companies also set out in their Water Resource Management Plans how they will reduce water consumption through, for example, the introduction of compulsory water metering and education programmes. Water efficiency is clearly a key issue for the borough (and the South East).
We spend much of our time indoors. Indoor air quality also impacts on our exposure to pollutants.
Here are just some of sources of air pollution in your home:
| Tips to reduce pollutants in your home | |
|---|---|
| Open windows when you're cooking or using cleaning products | Good ventilation will help to avoid air pollution in your home. It will also help stop the build up of moulds too.
Keep dust levels low, by using fragrance-free or naturally-scented products, switch to mild cleaning products and avoid aerosols. |
| Conserve energy at home to reduce pollution (and your bills) created by gas and electricity |
|
| Get your boiler serviced regularly | Carbon Monoxide from faulty boilers and heaters can be fatal so make sure you get your boiler serviced regularly.
If you're thinking of replacing your boiler consider installing an ultra-low Nox model. |
| Recycle your compostable |
|
| Burn smokeless fuels or dry, well-seasoned wood on your barbecue or stove | Wood-burning stoves have grown in popularity. Domestic burning contributes 38% of particulate matter pollution, compared with 16% from industrial combustion and only 12% from road transport. If you’re installing a new wood burning stove, buy a Defra-approved stove, only burn dry wood and only light it when really needed.
If you are thinking of, or are currently burning wood in a wood burning stove or open fire, visit our domestic biomass and solid fuel heating appliances page. Find out more about using your stoves properly by visiting the Burn Right website. |
Almost all enclosed public places and workplaces in England are now smoke free. This ensures a healthier environment, so everyone can socialise, relax, travel, shop and work without exposure to second hand smoke.
The smoke free law:
Smoking is illegal within public places and workplaces if they are partly or completely enclosed. The law affects most public premises, including workplaces and work vehicles, and applies to staff, customers and visitors. Failure to comply with the law is an offence:
Please visit our planning application process page for planning and general guidance for smoking shelters.
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