Gedling Borough Council will implement a borough-wide Smoke Control Area (SCA), marking a significant departure from decades of fragmented smoke regulation.
The council says this decision signals the council’s commitment to cleaner air and healthier living conditions for its residents.
For over half a century, Gedling has relied on a patchwork of 40 smoke control orders, established between 1961 and 1994. These regulations, introduced under the Clean Air Act, targeted emissions from domestic chimneys in response to the widespread use of coal as a heating fuel.
Covering just 21% of the borough’s land, they nonetheless impacted 81% of residential properties, focusing primarily on urban centres and a handful of villages. Yet, this left many rural areas untouched—places like Ravenshead, Woodborough, and Lambley, where traditional heating methods still prevail.
The landscape of air pollution has shifted dramatically since those early days. Coal, once the dominant culprit, now accounts for a mere fraction of emissions, overtaken by the rise of wood-burning stoves. By 2021, domestic wood burning was responsible for 27% of PM2.5 emissions, a dangerous pollutant linked to severe health conditions like asthma, heart disease, and even dementia. Emissions from wood burning alone have surged by 124% in the past decade, a troubling trend that has outpaced regulations designed for a bygone era.
Recognising these shifts, the council is proposing a bold, unified approach: a single SCA encompassing the entire borough. This would revoke all existing orders, including some that require approval from the Secretary of State due to their age. It’s a move designed to simplify enforcement and bring consistency to a borough where urban and rural residents have long faced different rules.
However, the journey toward this decision hasn’t been without its challenges. Public consultations held in 2023 and 2024 revealed significant resistance. Of the 202 responses, 69% opposed the idea of extending the SCA borough-wide. The objections ranged from fears about rising heating costs to concerns over rural life being unfairly targeted. Many residents argued that smoke from isolated homes posed no significant health risk, particularly when compared to urban areas.
The council argue that health risks from particulate pollution are universal and that even rural communities should share in the benefits of cleaner air. Census data supports their case: while only 0.2% of households in certain villages rely solely on wood for heating, 8.4% in rural areas use it as a supplementary source. This, they say, underscores the need for consistent rules.
The new order doesn’t outlaw wood burning outright. Residents can still use DEFRA-approved appliances and smokeless fuels, provided they comply with updated regulations. Enforcement will also be pragmatic, with a three-stage process beginning with warnings before escalating to fines.
Penalties will start at £175 for first-time offenders, rising to £300 for repeat violations. Crucially, the council has promised a proportionate approach, focusing on education and support to help residents transition.
Fuel poverty, a persistent concern, has also been a focal point of discussions. With energy prices soaring and traditional heating methods becoming more expensive, many residents worry about how they’ll keep warm. The council has pledged to consider these challenges, particularly for vulnerable groups, by offering advice on energy efficiency and alternative heating options.
While opposition remains strong in some quarters, the proposed SCA reflects Gedling’s ambition to align with national and global efforts to combat air pollution. The council points to the broader benefits: healthier communities, reduced carbon emissions, and a step closer to the borough’s goal of becoming a cleaner, greener place to live.
If the plan moves forward as expected, the borough-wide SCA will take effect in 2025.
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