I WOULD be grateful if you would print the following in your paper as I am sure that I am not the only one dreading this summer. Why do people find the need to light fires on glorious days and fine evenings?
Living in the parish of Ruspidge this is a big problem, which has already started in March! Do people not realise that the smut and smoke go into neighbouring homes, do we have to shut our windows and doors because of thoughtless people? The answer is yes we do, smut fills the house and makes the rooms smell awful. I like to enjoy fresh air coming into my home, letting my grandchildren come in and out and not worry about shutting the doors. I would like to ask people before they light a fire, think, think of their neighbours and the misery it can cause.
Even if they think the wind is taking the smut and smoke away, it may take it away from their property but it ends up in someone elses!
The council has gone to great expense to provide willing householders with wheelie bins for the reason of disposing of garden waste and this, hopefully, will see the decline in the lighting of fires. But unfortunately it will be along continuing story in the village of Ruspidge, as people think 'oh it's getting late, no-one will have washing out now, I'll light that fire.' 'Oh, it's only a bit of wood and grass, it won't take long to burn.'
How can we educate these people into enjoying the lovely countryside that we live in, and not be smothered by their bad habits. People think that because they live in the countryside it is a done thing to light fires. It may be if you live in a remote area but not in built-up areas such as villages. I know that many have the same opinion as myself and hope that fires will become a thing of the past. – Concerned villager.