This confusion has probably arisen because of the fact that the rules changed a couple of years ago. Before then there were certain areas of Class D and E airspace, such as Cardiff, in which flight under IMC with an IMC Rating was prohibited. These were the 'ANO 8' areas - however, a commonsense approach by the CAA greatly simplified things. No longer did people scratch around in very marginal VMC at low level; traffic permitting they could now fly an instrument approach at such places.