Home smoke fines to be introduced across borough

Reading Borough Council said the scheme aimed to improve air quality

Restrictions on the use of wood burners and open fires in homes and businesses will be introduced for the whole of Reading borough from the start of December.

Reading Borough Council said creating the smoke control area (SCA) would help reduce harmful pollution and improve air quality.

Fines for breaching the restrictions will be between £175 and £300.

There will be exceptions for households using appliances approved by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) or fuels bearing the "ready to burn" logo on an open fire or non-exempt appliance.

The scheme will replace the 21 existing smoke control areas that already cover about 62% of the town.

The council said the use of outdoor barbecues, chimineas, garden fireplaces or pizza ovens could be used "as long as they do not release smoke through the chimney of a building".

Garden bonfires will be allowed in the SCA if they follow the rules on the council’s bonfires webpage.

A public consultation on creating a borough-wide SCA was conducted in autumn 2023 and Defra approved the scheme in July.

John Ennis, lead councillor for climate strategy and transport, said the SCA creation would "help reduce the release of harmful pollution which can affect every organ in the body and increase the risk of serious illness".

“It will also be much easier for households to understand if the rules apply to them, as the SCA will cover the whole of Reading borough rather than separate pockets of the town," he said.

“I would encourage households and businesses to visit the council website to check what can and cannot be burned if you live inside an SCA.”