Garden Bonfires Again

At this time of year the warm weather means that people will be using their gardens to put out washing or just to sit out view their plants and breathe in the fresh air. Because it is dry it is very tempting to have garden bonfires. These will be a nuisance to neighbours and spoil their enjoyment of their gardens. To avoid your neighbours complaining to Environmental Health you should follow these guidelines. The London Borough of Bromley may take into account, when investigating any complaints concerning bonfires, whether the guidelines and in particular the minimum standards have been followed.

Guidelines

1) Compost as much garden rubbish as possible and burn only when there is no reasonable alternative method of disposal.

2) Avoid lighting fires in unsuitable weather conditions. Smoke hangs in the air on damp, still days and in the evening.

3) Avoid burning at weekends and on Bank Holidays, especially on warm days, when other people wish to enjoy their gardens.

4)  Garden refuse should be dry before burning and care must be taken to add material to the fire in small quantities only. Sudden heaping of large amounts of rubbish on the fire produces large quantities of smoke. The golden rule is to feed the fire little and often.

Minimum standards of care and conduct

1) Site the bonfire as far away from neighbours' premises as possible.

2)  Do not light a fire when weather conditions will cause problems. The fire should be lit only when the wind is light and steady in a direction which would cause the least annoyance - and never when the wind is blowing towards neighbouring houses.

3) Extinguish the fire if it is causing, or is likely to cause, any nuisance to adjacent residents.

4) Never add household rubbish, plastic or rubber materials to the fire, or use sump oil to set it alight.

5) Bonfires should never be left unattended. Do not allow the fire to smoulder; douse it properly with soil or water.

This notice has now been posted several times on this website because some residents have not followed the guidelines. 

Complaints and advice on bonfires:

Environmental Health and Trading Standards (020) 8313 4830

Email:

ehts.customer@bromley.gov.uk

Tel: 0300 303 8657

Or write to 

Environmental Health and Trading Standards

Civic Centre, Stockwell Close, Bromley, BR1 3UH