FOI release

Mums For Lungs - Smoke Regulations

Case reference FOI2026/01920

Received 9 September 2026

Published 19 October 2026

Request

I am writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act to request the following information:

Question 1) Please state how many complaints your local authority has received about smoke from domestic fires from 1st Sept 2025 to 31st August 2026 inclusive?

Question 2) Please state the number of enforcement actions taken by your local authority, in the following categories, against suspected breaches of Smoke Control Area rules from 1st Sept 2025 to 31st August 2026 inclusive:

a) Warning or guidance letters b) Inspections c) Penalty notices d) Prosecution?

b) How many complaints concerned people who had previously been the addressee of an enforcement action, including letters?

Question 3) Does your Smoke Control Area cover canal boats / moored vessels and fixed vessels on inland waterways?

Question 4a) The Clean Air Act powers as amended by the Environment Act 2021 allows for civil financial penalties for smoke emissions in Smoke Control Areas. Has your local authority amended its Enforcement Policy to allow for visible smoke to result in civil financial penalties and other enforcement action for smoke emissions in Smoke Control Zones?

Question 4b) If so, how many enforcement actions has this change resulted in and which kind?

Response

Thank you for your recent request under the Freedom of Information Act.

Please find the answers to your queries below:

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, could you please provide the following information from the last 12 months:

Question 1) Please state how many complaints your local authority has received about smoke from domestic fires from 1st Sept 2025 to 31st August 2026 inclusive?

We received 102 reports which have been logged on our database as either Bonfire Domestic (45) and Air Pollution (57). ‘Air Pollution’ includes, for example request for air quality monitoring, idling vehicles etc and as well as complaints of smoke from chimney.

All the complaints we received got assigned to an officer for investigation. The extent of investigation depended on the evidence of statutory nuisance or non-compliance with Clean Air Act.

a) Warning or guidance letters:

A guidance letter is always sent out if a complaint is received. No ‘warnings’ were issued.

b) Inspections:

All complaints are investigated. If problems persist after the advice letter is sent appropriate actions will be undertaken including visits / inspections as needed, either under the Environment Act 2021, if in a Smoke Control Area, or under Statutory Nuisance, Environmental Protection Act 1990, elsewhere.

c) Penalty notices:

None.

d) Prosecution:

None.

b) How many complaints concerned people who had previously been the addressee of an enforcement action, including letters?

None.

Question 3) Does your Smoke Control Area cover canal boats / moored vessels and fixed vessels on inland waterways?

No.

Our Enforcement Policy is generic and allows us to take appropriate action in accordance with the requirements of applicable legislation.

Question 4b) If so, how many enforcement actions has this change resulted in and which kind?

N/A

Yours sincerely

FOI Team

Guildford Borough Council

Documents

There are no documents for this release.

This is Guildford Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.

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