Richard Cameron, 67, had treated ‘burning wood’ at his home which let out a reportedly ‘horrid smell’ from his chimney. He pleaded guilty after appearing at Cheltenham Magistrates Court earlier this month, failing to comply with section 80(1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1980.
Gloucestershire Live, reported that he had been fined a total of £330. The magistrates fined Cameron £200, and ordered him to pay a further £80 surcharge and £50 prosecution charges.
Under section 80(1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1980, a local authority shall serve an “abatement notice” if the authority is satisfied that a nuisance exists or is likely to occur or recur. A ‘nuisance’ meaning a disturbance that effects your surroundings, including the people around you.
To avoid committing this, these are harmful substances that you should not burn, some of which you may not realise are harmful. One of these being painted or treated wood (what Cameron had burned) as well as wet wood. Other materials to avoid would be plastics, tyres, cannisters, food, polystyrene and aerosols. Burning some of these would result in offending the law and can ultimately damage the environment and seriously bother your neighbours.
