The majority of the borough is a 'smoke control area' which is meant to reduce smoke pollution. It is illegal in a 'smoke control area' to emit smoke from a chimney. Contact us if you believe that someone is breaking this law or you need advice or information which is not contained below.
What are smoke control areas?
Under the Clean Air Act we may declare the whole or part of the district of the authority to be a smoke control area. It is an offence to emit smoke from a chimney of a building, from a furnace or from any fixed boiler if located in a designated smoke control area. It is also an offence to acquire an unauthorised fuel for use within a smoke control area unless it is used in an exempt appliance. The current maximum level of fine is £1,000 for each offence.
We are responsible for enforcing the legislation in smoke control areas.
Why were smoke control areas introduced?
The Clean Air Acts of 1956 and 1968 were introduced to deal with the smog of the 1950s and 1960s, which was caused by the widespread burning of coal for domestic heating and by industry. Smog was blamed for the premature deaths of thousands of people in the UK. The Acts gave local authorities powers to control emissions of dark smoke, grit, dust and fumes from industrial premises and furnaces and to declare “smoke control areas” in which emissions of smoke from domestic properties are banned.
Where are the smoke control areas in the borough of Bromley?
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s we introduced an increasing number of smoke control areas to address the air pollution of the day and to ensure the great smog of 1952 did not occur again. The geographical extent of these smoke control areas was determined by the ward boundaries of the time with only Darwin ward and Chelsfield ward being exempt from smoke control.
Since this time these boundaries have evolved and as such certain areas of Darwin ward and what is now Chelsfield and Pratts Bottom ward are exempt while others are enforced. The full extent of the area can seen on the smoke control map. A full list of streets that are exempt from smoke control is available here.
What fuels are exempt?
Authorised fuels are fuels that are authorised by Statutory Instruments (Regulations) made under the Clean Air Act 1993 or Clean Air (Northern Ireland) Order 1981. These include inherently smokeless fuels such as gas, electricity and anthracite together with specified brands of manufactured solid smokeless fuels. These fuels have passed tests to confirm that they are capable of burning in an open fireplace without producing smoke. List of exempt fuels.
What appliances are exempt?
Exempt appliances are appliances (ovens, wood burners and stoves) that have been exempted by Statutory Instruments (Orders) under the Clean Air Act 1993 or Clean Air (Northern Ireland) Order 1981. List of exempt appliances.
Contacts
Telephone: 020 8313 4830
Fax: 020 8313 4450
email: pollution@bromley.gov.uk
Address: Environmental Health and Trading Standards, Civic Centre, Stockwell Close, Bromley BR1 3UH