Barbecue Nuisance
Be a Considerate Neighbour
...the nuisance and pollution factors that originate from them are often a source of distress and neighbour nuisance to many.
Whether you prefer to "Barbecue", "Barbeque" or "BBQ", there's no argument, barbecues are a both a great source of enjoyment and equally a real source of distress to many. To BBQ is to be British?!
To barbecue though often results in unwanted smelly smoke and fumes. Barbecue gatherings often cause loud, amplified outside music or noise from noisy neighbours.
Barbecue Smoke & Pollution
It's a sad fact; the problems that are associated with barbecues and bonfire smoke have definitely been on the increase over the last number of years. As the popularity of the BBQ never seems to burn out, the nuisance and pollution factors that originate from them are often a source of distress and neighbour nuisance to many.
Booze fuelled barbecues from next door may be great for the BBQ'ers, but not for the neighbours! The antisocial behaviour, nuisance and noise it often creates can turn your average neighbour into Neighbours From Hell.
It's pretty difficult to actually give an accurate definition of what 'pollution' actually is when this is related to a BBQ. After all, this is all relative - what one individual may see as being quite 'normal', could be viewed by other people as a source of distress. The same goes for BBQ pollution, whilst BBQs can cause a lot of smoke, odour, debris and pollution, they are also viewed as a great source of enjoyment, fun and entertainment for millions of people in the UK and around the world.
Neighbours who enjoy regular barbecues (or bonfires) could well be found guilty of causing a nuisance via the smoke which originates from a barbecue and find themselves the subject of a complaint to their Local Authority. Smoke nuisance is pretty nasty stuff - it's smelly, polluting, revolting and dangerous to health. It can also cause environmental damage.
It's not pleasant to have to close your home windows on a sunny, warm day because of your neighbours smoke pollution from a barbecue. Smoke from barbecues can also cause dangerous and serious visual obstructions when the smoke drifts or pollutes highways, roads and other access routes.
Environmental Protection Act (1990)
The 'Environmental Protection Act 1990' details that smoke or ash caused by barbecues (or bonfires) can constitute a nuisance of a statutory nature - e.g. a "statutory nuisance". A statutory nuisance includes "smoke, fumes or gasses emitted from premises so as to be prejudicial to health or a nuisance" and in practice often refers to something which is a persistent problem.
Under the act, Local Authorities have a legal responsibility to take action against anyone who causes a statutory nuisance or from those people who might allow it to occur.
As a private individual, if you're the subject of such a nuisance which is statutory, you may also be able to complain to the Magistrates Court or take your own action as a 'private nuisance' within the civil courts. Within a civil court, individuals could be given damages awarded to them, even if a Local Authority might not be able to give satisfying proof that a statutory nuisance has occurred.