The Isle of Wight Council is asking Islanders to be considerate neighbours when lighting garden bonfires which can aggravate lung conditions and cause a nuisance.
Multiple bonfires have been reported by residents across the Island during the coronavirus (Covid-19) lockdown.
Earlier this week, firefighters from Freshwater were called to tackle a large bonfire in Yarmouth which had been left unattended.
Afterwards, the crew posted this important message on Twitter: “Please stay home to help save lives and please don’t light huge bonfires and leave them unattended because we want to stay home too as much as possible.”
The council said it recognised the closure of its household waste recycling centres at Lynnbottom and Afton Marsh was an inconvenience but urged residents to act responsibly.
Should you have excess waste that you must arrange a collection for, ensure that you use a licensed waste contractor – such as Onward Waste.
If residents must have a bonfire, then they should:
- only burn dry material
- never burn household rubbish, recycling, rubber tyres, plastic paint or foam
- do not burn when the air is damp and still, or when it is too windy (as roads and neighbours may be badly affected)
- keep fires under control and be mindful of trees, fences and buildings
- never use oil, petrol or methylated spirits to light a fire
- never leave a fire unattended, put it out when you leave
Lynnbottom remains open for business use only for essential services.
Ban Bonfires during Corvid 19!
Shouldn’t be allowed in residential areas. You don’t know what conditions people have and as we all have to stay at home we need to take advantage of the lovely whether by opening windows or being in the garden for FRESH air not breathing in someone’s choking bonfire smoke. Also you have to do the washing again if you’re lucky enough to have a garden to hang it out. Please be considerate. Just leave it for a while
Good practical advice – thanks.
Many of us stuck at home will do work in the home and garden that has been waiting for weeks or (in my case at least) years.
With lynbottom tip not available many will be tempted to burn the resulting rubbish so this advice definitely is going to help me be a good neighbour.
Bonfires have been on the increase since the council first cut the opening hours at Lynn bottom tip, where working people can’t get there when it’s open. The council would rather you pay £72 for the same people to collect. Local elections are off this year!
Smoking chimneys should be mentioned too. I’m always coughing because of breathing in smoke from the chimney opposite me, and stink of it whenever I’ve been outside because the smoke from it comes down across the road and goes everywhere, people next door to my friend also have smoking chimney, his washing comes in stinking of smoke, he can no longer sit out in his garden watching the birds which he used to enjoy, they boast about their wood burner but they are ignorant types, and burn all kinds of rubbish which they pile up in their front garden waiting to be taken into their house, old furniture with paint on, tree branches with green leaves on and goodness knows what else. anything goes into their wood burner which they pollute the area with. Horrible ignorant people. Also I get the smell of cigarette smoke seeping through from the chain smoker next door, can’t go out to get away from it. Having to breathe that in all the time, makes my chest feel tight and irritates my throat , so making me cough, then i have to worry that they will think i have the dreaded virus because their smoke is making me cough.
There are some selfish people sbout