Forced out of Welsh village by wood smoke

We put our house in Wales on the market because of the very poor quality of the air in the village. There is smoke from wood burners mainly in the winter and bonfires in the summer, usually on lovely afternoons just after putting the washing out.

I reported some really high air pollution readings on the village chat hoping it might make people think twice but was met with hostility and aggression and no support from anyone even people who are already ill and have asthma. Several people told me to just move and the neighbour who has the regular bonfires, who is unwell herself, came round with a book suggesting that there was a diet solution for all ills. Pomegranates for asthma – who knew!

We have managed to sell at last but now our dilemma is where to buy next. I have used ChatGPT which has come up with excellent suggestions about the position of the house; prevailing winds and how to make indoors pollution proof however it can’t know what the neighbours are like. We have one option where wood burning is not allowed because the house is in a converted hospital but it will stretch our budget and has a strange lease. Other options are uninspiring new build or houses in the positions suggested by ChatGPT. I am finding I just can’t make a decision and am fearful of what potential neighbours might do in the future. I feel so angry and resentful that I can’t buy the house I would like because people either do or might burn wood next door.