MICHAEL Gove plans to reduce air pollution from wood-burning stoves, have come in for criticism.
In an announcement that infuriated owners of the toasty house warmers, including many of his own Tory colleagues, the Environment Secretary proposed measures that would mean only cleaner fuels and stoves will be sold for domestic heating.
Bags of “wet” wood, the kind commonly found in petrol stations will be made illegal. Only wood that has been dried to less than 20% of moisture can go on sale, which will likely lead to price hikes.
Although the proposals in the draft Clean Air Strategy only apply to England, they’ll clearly have an impact in Scotland, where the Scottish Government is still considering its options.
Gove’s proposals, which are going out to consultation, will see councils given new powers to bring in “clean air zones” and possible “no-burn days”.
Government officials say almost two-fifths (38%) of particulate matter comes from domestic wood burners and open fires, which just 7.5% of homes have. As well as affecting stoves, the rules will apply to open fires, log burners, diesel-power machines and generators.
Farmers will be targeted as well, with measures to reduce the amount of ammonia used and to cut emissions from slurry spreading.
Gove said: “It’s critically important we make progress there, but it’s also important we deal with other sources of air pollution, whether that’s from slurry and manures spread on agricultural land or whether it’s from wood burning or other ways people generate domestic fuel and power.”
The Government said the measures would reduce the costs of air pollution to society by an annual £1 billion by 2020, rising to £2.5bn each year from 2030 onwards.
In the Commons, Tory MP Desmond Swayne, said Gove was interfering with his bonfire.
Green MP Caroline Lucas said the strategy showed the Government wasn’t serious about tackling toxic air. “While thousands of people are dying early from filthy air, the government has postured and prevaricated,” she said.
Lucas added: “The Government is using a water pistol to put out the air pollution wildfire.”
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