Smoke control areas

Most of the densely populated parts of Wirral have been declared a smoke control area. The areas covered in this are highlighted on a map of controlled areas.

It’s an offence to emit smoke from a chimney, a furnace or any fixed boiler if located in a designated smoke control area.

If your home is in this area you must:

  • only burn authorised fuels, such as ‘Coalite’
  • use a grate in the fireplace that’s suitable for burning smokeless fuel
  • only use an exempted appliance

Further guidance and advice on smoke control areas, is available from Gov.uk.

DEFRA have produced a range of guidance leaflets with further information on open fires and wood burning stoves, smoke control areas and buying, storing and seasoning wood.

It’s an offence to:

  • burn ordinary coal or wood (other than kindling to light a fire) in your open fireplace
  • burn waste paper and wood with smokeless fuel
  • emit smoke from a chimney (garden bonfires are permitted)

The current maximum level of fine is £1,000 for each offence.

Roads in Wirral that are NOT in a smoke control area:

  • all of Raby Mere (west of Dibbinsdale Brook)
  • all of Thornton Hough
  • all roads south of Brimstage Road, Spital and west of Poulton Road, Poulton
  • Benty Heath Lane (to Wirral boundary)
  • Brimstage Lane
  • Brimstage Road (east of Heswall Hills Station and west of Clatterbridge roundabout)
  • Clatterbridge Road
  • Greenbank, Brimstage
  • Hargrave Lane
  • Keepers Lane
  • Landican Lane, Storeton
  • Lever Causeway
  • Little Storeton Lane
  • Manor Road, Thornton Hough
  • Marsh Lane
  • Mount Road, Clatterbridge
  • Neston Road
  • Parkgate Lane
  • Poulton Hall Road
  • Raby Hall Road
  • Raby Mere Road
  • Redhill Road
  • Resthill Road
  • Station Road, Storeton
  • Talbot Avenue, Brimstage
  • Thornton Common Road
  • Whitehouse Lane (east of railway track)
  • Willaston Road (to Wirral boundary)
  • Willow Lane
  • Willowbrow Road (to Wirral boundary)