Test Valley Borough Council is urging residents not to light bonfires during the lockdown period.

The authority warns that bonfire smoke can be extremely dangerous for neighbours with breathing difficulties.

It comes after calls from the fire service for residents to refrain from burning garden waste.

In a statement, the borough council said: "Bonfire smoke may cause particular problems for people with underlying health conditions such as asthma, bronchitis and heart conditions. 

"We all now know that the coronavirus is a respiratory disease. During the coronavirus pandemic, more people than normal are at home, working, caring for their family and/or self-isolating. Your neighbour may be suffering breathing difficulties due to the virus.

"People with underlying health conditions have been strongly advised to self-isolate in their homes for 12 weeks.

"They need to go into their gardens for fresh air and they need to be able to open their windows for ventilation; they have nowhere else to go.

"Breathing could be worsened due to bonfire smoke inhalation and put a further burden on the NHS.

"Therefore, during these difficult times, we would particularly ask all residents to cooperate in protecting everyone’s health by not lighting bonfires during the Government’s lockdown period.

"At present the Council’s waste collection services are being undertaken as normal but you are probably aware that Hampshire’s household waste recycling centres have closed.

"As we are spending more time at home, we are perhaps finding time to declutter and do lots of gardening. You may then be tempted to dispose of some of your extra household and/or garden waste by having a bonfire. 

"As the lockdown throws up new challenges for us all, we are kindly asking everyone to be a good neighbour and not burn any of this extra waste.

"We thank you for your cooperation in doing all you can to protect the health of your family and that of your neighbours, many of whom may be more vulnerable to the effects of bonfire smoke than ever before and who are presently restricted to their homes. The waste you are likely to burn can wait. Store for now, please do not burn."  

What are the practical alternatives to having a bonfire?

  • Garden Waste Collection Service - Test Valley Borough Council operates a garden waste collection service. For further details and charges, please contact us on 01264 368000;
  • Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC) – Garden an other waste can be taken to any of the household waste recycling centres in the area when they reopen;
  • Home Composting - For information on composting of all manner of garden waste, please visit our web page  
  • Use grass cuttings as much in your plant beds; 
  • Cut up and compact your garden cuttings and clippings as much as possible to reduce volume and store until you can get out to the HWRC;
  • Postpone some of your gardening tasks until the coronavirus crisis is over;
  • Cut down cardboard boxes and other recyclable products so more can be placed in the recycling bin and 
  • Store any excess waste from DIY projects, spring cleans etc at home until it can be disposed of safely and legally.