BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL has decided to ban all narrowboats from emitting smoke from chimneys.
This came into force on Monday, Janet Friend reports.
Moored vessels
With the council telling that residents and users of moored boat vessels, such as canal [narrowboats] boats, will not be permitted to emit visible smoke from a chimney.
Only authorised fuels in an open fireplace or the burning of other solid fuels, such as wood, in a Defra-exempt appliance are allowed.
The order follows the announcement from DEFRA that domestic wood burning is now one of the largest sources of fine particulate pollution, external in the UK, responsible for 22% of PM2.5 emissions.
As yet there has been no comment from Canal & River Trust. But a public consultation was held where the council stated that there was broad support for applying the order to fixed dwellings and industrial buildings.
Concerns
But there were concerns around extending it to moored vessels due to reliance on solid fuels, the cost of them and the availability of alternatives.
If rules are not followed in a Smoke Control Area and visible smoke is seen from a boat chimney, a fine of up to £300 could be levied.