What are smoke control areas?
Parts of the UK have become designated smoke controlled areas to reduce smoke emissions from domestic fires.
This means it is illegal to burn any unauthorised fuels and instead an exempt appliance must be used such as a fire, stove, boiler, cooker or heater.
It is also an offence for solid fuel suppliers to make a delivery of unauthorised fuels to any property within a smoke control area.
The power to designate smoke control areas was initially given to the council under the Clean Air Act 1956 and it is still included in the most recent act.
Smoke control areas in Northumberland
The whole of the former Wansbeck District and Blyth Valley Borough are smoke control areas. There are also these other areas within Northumberland which are smoke control areas: parts of Alnwick town; all of Morpeth town (three areas); all of Broomhill, Hadston and Red Row; all of Pegswood (two areas); all of Widdrington Station and Stobswood; all of Lynemouth.
For more information please visit https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/public-protection/pollution/smoke-control-areas.
You can also check for an individual address at https://myplace.northumberland.gov.uk.
Formal checks should go through proper search procedures.