Environment chief Adam Harrison

A BOATER said the expansion of a smoke control area to include the waterways is a “punitive system” that will “end up being a tax on poverty”.

Last week, the Town Hall released proposals to extend the borough’s smoke control order, which only allows for certain authorised fuels to be burnt from people’s homes to stop harmful and polluting particles being released into the air.

However, boaters, who mostly light fires to stay warm, could be disproportionately hit by fines, it was warned this week.

Jack Saville, from the National Bargee Travellers Association (NBTA), said: “The majority of boaters do burn smokeless fuels. The people who don’t are predominantly people who can’t afford to. He said it was very costly to change to DEFRA-approved stoves, and there had been no attempt by the Canal & River Trust or councils to help boaters who can’t afford to do it.

“All that’s been discussed is rolling out fines that people won’t be able to afford anyway,” he said.

SEE ALSO IT’S CAMDEN VS THE WOOD BURNERS

You could be fined up to £1,000 for burning unauthorised wood and solid fuels in the borough or for producing smoke from any chimney.

But from September 2023 to August 2024, no one was fined despite the council receiving 335 complaints about smoke from domestic fires in the same period.

He also added that the pollution created by boaters is negligible when compared with vehicles. Mr Saville said: “Most boats run electricity off solar panels and use a small amount of water. Our carbon footprint is a lot less so now to say that boaters are the problem does feel a little disingenuous.

“Boaters are the first people to want there to be better air quality. We live on canals, we’re the ones breathing the air, so it’s not in boaters’ interest to maliciously burn the wrong fuels.”

A Camden Council spokesperson said: “We want our boating community to know that rather than singling them out, we are seeking to create a Smoke Control Order that ensures that the same rules apply to everyone who may emit smoke across Camden.

“We understand how costly and inconvenient it can be to make this change, and there is support available such as the Waterways Air Quality grant which provides up to 70 per cent of the funds to change heating systems. We’ve also installed electricity supplies at moorings to facilitate connection to the mains.

“We’re keen to engage with our local boating community to understand how best we can support any changes that need to be made.”