The Clean Air Acts of 1956 and 1968 introduced legislation to
deal with the severe smog that was caused by burning coal.
These Acts were later superseded by the Clean
Air Act 1993. It’s under this Act that a local authority can
declare areas of its district to be a smoke control area.
Smoke control areas in West Lancashire
are:
- Skelmersdale
- Up Holland
- Crawford Village
- Part of Roby Mill - up to and including Bank Road/Ayrefield
Farm
- Part of Tontine - up to the boundary with Sandbrook
- Holland Moss, including Nipe Lane and Pimbo
It is an offence to emit smoke from a building
chimney, furnace or fixed boiler, if it is located in a designated
smoke control area. It’s also an offence to acquire an
'unauthorised fuel' for use in a smoke control area - unless it’s
for use in an exempt appliance.
Authorised fuels
These are fuels that are authorised by Statutory Instruments
(Regulations) made under the Clean Air Act 1993. They include
smokeless fuels such as gas, electricity and anthracite along 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.
Exempt appliances
These are appliances such as ovens, wood
burners and stoves, which have been declared exempt by Statutory
Instruments (Orders) under the Clean Air Act 1993. This means that
they have passed tests to confirm that they are able to burn an
unauthorised or smoky solid fuel without emitting smoke.
Contact us
If you are unsure if your property falls
within a smoke control area and would like further clarification,
please contact Barry Walters, Scientific Officer.
Tel: 01695 577177 ext. 5648
Email: barry.walters@westlancs.gov.uk
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