City-wide home smoke fines to start in December

Restrictions on open fires and wood burners in Oxford are set to come in across the city on 1 December.

One option for residents and businesses wishing to use a wood burner will be to use an exempt appliance, approved by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Alternatively, they will be able to use a non-exempt appliance or have an open fire with smokeless fuel or authorised fuel.

The single city-wide smoke control area (SCA), covering the whole of Oxford, replaces the current 23 areas, which cover just under half of the city.

Oxford City Council can hand out fines of up to £300 for anyone found flouting the rules.

The authority's application to expand Oxford's SCA was approved by the government in May.

• Wood burners: Can be used if included on the list of exempt appliances listed on the Defra website for use within SCAs. Alternatively a non-exempt burner/appliance can be used with a smokeless fuel or authorised fuel

• Open fires: Smokeless fuel must be used (anthracite, semi-anthracite, gas, low volatile steam coal), or an authorised fuel listed on Defra

• Outdoor barbecues, chimineas, garden fireplaces or pizza ovens: Can be used if they do not release smoke through a chimney of a building

• Moored vessels/canal boats: Exempt from the SCA rules

The introduction of the city-wide SCA is intended to protect the public from microscopic particles - both inside and outside the home - that can get into lungs and cause serious health conditions, according to the council.

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