buttonmonkey

Edinburgh We installed a woodburning stove in november 2008 and used it to burn seasoned logs for several months before the council turned up. They informed us that we lived in a smoke control area and that we did not have an approved appliance therefore we could not burn logs. We are only allowed to burn smokeless fuel. We had never heard of approved stoves - despite doing lots of research - and were not aware we lived in a smokeless zone They only act when a complaint has been received and our neighbour had been complaining. The neighbour did not approach us once although this person said that our stove was having a negative effect on their health. We were not allowed to know who the complainer was. To cut an extremely long story short, even when we burned smokeless fuel the neighbour continued to complain and the council have taken their side. They claim that we are still burning wood. We are now being prosecuted by the Procurator Fiscal in the Justice of the Peace court using "evidence" gathered by the local council. I have been refused Legal aid and cannot reclaim costs even if we win so I am having to represent myself in court. Could be £1000 fine if we lose. We want to install an approved stove (we would have bought one originally if we had known there was such a thing) but that will cost us around £1000... can't afford both so will just have to wait and see. Unique situation is that the council have found an idiot that will just keep complaining and complaining and they are looking for someone to make an example of because of the rise in popularity of wood burning. I think we might be the first householders to be tried under the clean air act. my advice? BUY AN APPROVED STOVE