A to Z of services

Each council has responsibility for measuring the quality of ambient air to ensure that it meets required standards in relation to the concentration of a defined range of pollutants such as lead, nitrogen dioxide, benzene, etc.  See the Council's air quality monitoring pages for more information.

The Council investigates complaints about air pollution such as smoke from chimneys, bonfires and odours.  We have the power to prosecute offenders.

Concerns about air pollution are dealt with by Environmental Health Services. Please contact us using the details below.

Am I in a Smoke Control Area?

All built up areas in Pendle are classed as being in a smoke control area. Some outlying properties are not. The easiest way to check out your property is to contact the pollution team:

• Telephone: (01282) 661199
• Email:environmental.pollution@pendle.gov.uk

Clean Air Act

Pendle has designated Smoke Control Areas covering the more highly-populated areas of the borough.  If you live in a Smoke Control Area, you can only burn wood for heating purposes on an approved appliance (stove).  If you have a stove that is not an approved appliance, or if you have an open fire, you must burn an approved smokeless fuel (external link).

Some businesses that use wood in manufacturing processes burn their wood offcuts in approved appliances.

• See the current list of approved appliances (also known as exempt appliances) (external link).

We can deal with smoke from chimneys in Smoke Control Areas under the Clean Air Act.  For problems outside Smoke Control areas we will investigate whether the smoke is causing a statutory nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act.