Residents who emit wood smoke from their chimneys face a fine of up to £300, reports Sebastian Mann, Local Democracy Reporter

Waltham Forest Council will crack down on domestic wood burning in a bid to improve public health.

The borough is divided into more than 30 ‘smoke control order’ zones in which residents are forbidden from emitting smoke from their chimneys, and they must stick to authorised ‘smokeless’ fuels.

Some zones date back as far as 1962, and were implemented following a high number of smog-related deaths in the early 1950s.

Breaking the rules of a smoke control order can carry a fine as high as £300.

A scheme to consolidate all 30 smoke control order zones into a single zone comprising the entire borough and its waterways was formally approved by councillors at a full council meeting held last night (11th December).

According to data from the town hall, the increased use of wood-burning stoves has contributed to increased emissions of fine particulate matter – known as PM2.5 – which is currently considered the most harmful pollutant and is the target of the council’s air quality action plan.

The scheme was tabled by deputy council leader Councillor Clyde Loakes, who said that one single control order would be easier to enforce and “bring everything up to date”.

He called the change a “tidying-up process” that would “clear up some inconsistencies across existing, fragmented orders”.

For the first time, house-boats will be included in the control zones.

In a report presented to councillors, the town hall said the move was expected to “generate greater public awareness, provide clarity for residents and businesses and allow for more effective enforcement”.

“These measures will allow the council to continue to reduce emissions from domestic wood burning and reduce the health impacts on the residents,” it said.

No councillors vocally opposed the scheme.

It is not expected to cost the cash-strapped council much, though it will need to spend £810 on printing a formal notice in the East London Guardian.

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