- Title or Description
- Wood Burning
- FOI Number
- 2024486
- Date Received
- 07/05/2024
- Type of Request
- EIR
- Request or Question
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1 How many domestic wood-burning stove installations are there in your Council area? 2 What restrictions and procedures relating to domestic wood-burning installations, including in outbuildings, i.e. sheds, summer-houses does the Council currently have in place?
3 How is the pollution created by domestic wood-burning monitored by the Council?
4 Who is allowed to install domestic wood-burning apparatus in the Council s area?
5 What qualifications or registration are domestic wood-burning installers required to have in your Council area?
6 How many complaints has the Council received in the past five years in relation to domestic wood-burning?
7 What is your Council s policy regarding pollution and anti-social behaviour in relation to fire-pits, etc, and bonfires?
8 How does the Council currently monitor what is being burnt in domestic wood-burning installations in your Council area?
9 Does the Council have easily accessible information on its website, or otherwise, in relation to current Defra recommended use of domestic wood-burning installations and, or the health, environmental, social damage and neighbour disputes that result from burning wood in a domestic setting?
10 What planning application process or restrictions does your Council have in place in order for someone to instal domestic wood-burning apparatus?
11 How many smoke control areas does the Council have and how are they decided upon? - Response
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1. Unfortunately Scottish Borders Council does not hold the information you have requested and therefore we give notice under 10(4)(a) of EI(S)R 2004.
2. There are no restrictions in place under Development Management Regulations to install domestic wood burning stoves.
Planning permission may however be required under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992 as amended to install a flue serving the wood burning stove. Where a building warrant is required to install a wood burning stove, this is checked against the Domestic or Non-domestic Technical Standards applicable at the time of the application.
3. Through service requests/complaints received by the Environmental Health Service.
4. No restrictions under Building Standards regulations regarding installers of wood burning apparatus. Where a warrant is required, reasonable enquiry is made into the installation.
5. No qualifications or registration required for wood burning installers. No restrictions under Building (Scotland) Act 2003 or Technical Standards.
6. Scottish Borders Council do hold specific information re complaints about domestic wood burning . (There were 139 service requests in the last 5 years relating to domestic smoke .)
7. Upon complaint carry out investigation and consideration under Environmental Protection Act 1990.
8. No information no legal requirement on owners/occupants to register this information.
9.Complaints can be reported through Bonfires and burning outdoors | Scottish Borders Council (scotborders.gov.uk)
10. Some of the council area (with Hawick and Galashiels) is covered by a Smoke Control Area restricting fuel type and compliance with DEFRA standards.
11. 2 areas Hawick and Galashiels. Historic decision under previous council areas prior to formation of Scottish Borders Council.
