Bonfires, a health hazard

General notes on bonfires in Colliers Wood. Last year 7 very large and lengthy bonfires occurred in the Norfolk Rd. area of Colliers Wood alone. That’s 7 ruined days for neighbours. No warning is ever given and no concern shown for residents who wish to enjoy their gardens. Many bonfires will occur on the sunniest days. Last year the large bonfires began at 10.45am, 9.30am and at any other time during the day. This is a common occurrence in this area and has been going on for years. Can the Council help control bonfires? Merton residents pay extremely high Council Tax and yet cannot use their own gardens freely. The Wandle Valley is known for the extremely high number of asthma sufferers Perhaps Merton’s careless attitude towards bonfires is the cause. Wandsworth have a much better record for dealing with this major health problem. The smoke drifts everywhere in the Valley and so Wandsorth also suffers. Wandsworth and Merton therefore should be working together to deal once and for all with residents’ bonfires. Bonfires are not a slight problem for neighbours they are totally disruptive. It is not too difficult from the numbers given in this email (which is a record of about a third which actually occur), to count how many ruined days for hundreds of people there have been and how unacceptable, especially when Merton prides itself on being environmentally friendly. Bonfires have to stop. Merton Resident.