Environmental Protection – Smoke Control Areas

The Clean Air Act (1993) gives Local Authorities the power to declare their Borough, or parts of, as Smoke Control Areas. Which is done for reasons of health, they are predominantly found where coal burning has historically been the main source of domestic heating or power for industry.

Smoke Control Areas were originally introduced (under previous legislation) to combat the smogs of the 1950s and 1960s which were blamed for premature deaths of hundreds of people. The popularity of natural gas and the changes in industrial practices have led to a major reduction in smoke concentrations as well as the associated levels of Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) between the 1950s and the present day.

Much of Wrexham town centre is covered by various Smoke Control Areas:

If you live within a Smoke Control Area it is an offence to emit smoke from a chimney of a building, from a furnace or from any fixed boiler if located in the designated smoke control area. It is also an offence to acquire an “unauthorised fuel” for use within a smoke control area unless it is used in an “exempt” appliance. If you are thinking of having an appliance that burns solid fuel fitted at your premises, your retailer should be able to provide you with details of which ones are exempt. Alternatively the UK Smoke Control Areas website provides details of authorised fuels and exempt appliances.

Should you require any further advice please contact us. If you wish to report smoke from a chimney in a Smoke Control Area please use our online complaints form.

Advice on Smoke Control Areas

For advice please consult our information sheet by clicking on the link below:

Advice on Smoke Control Areas – PDF version 25Kb

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