Urgent clarity needed over controversial stove fire ban, warns Highland MSP
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Clarity is urgently needed over the ban on wood burning stoves, a Highland MSP has warned after being inundated with concerns from confused residents.
Rhoda Grant, a Labour list MSP has demanded that the Scottish Government provide clarity for residents and the construction sector over the scope and scale of the ban’s implementation.
The ban on new build properties to install wood burners and other direct emissions heating systems, was brought in with a raft of building standards at the start of this month. But following the introduction of the ban, there has been widespread confusion on what exemptions are in place and what impact assessments were carried out.
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Highland MSP seeks urgent clarification over woodburning stove ban in new-build properties
Ms Grant, who is also Scottish Labour’s rural affairs, islands and land reform spokesperson, said the ban had led to widespread fears in rural communities, many of which have limited access to other fuel and power sources, and rely on open fires or wood burning stoves as either their primary or back-up heating.
“There is a desperate need for clarity on the new rules of this ban,” she said. “I have been inundated with requests from constituents across rural Scotland who are concerned the Scottish Government are taking away heating systems that are relied upon, not as a superficial accessory in the home, but as an important secondary heating source. In many cases, wood burning stoves are used for practical means of heating homes in rural Scotland.
“Storms can knock out power in islands and rural communities for days at a time, as we saw in the winter just passed. Taking away the ability to burn wood or peat during a power cut will leave many households anxious when the lights begin to flicker and there is no back up to heat the house.”
She has now written to the Scottish Government seeking clarity on the new building standards and called for the Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Patrick Harvie, to provide detail on who can apply for exemptions to the ban, in addition to how the SNP-Green government came to the decision on the ban and what impact assessments were carried out. In the Scottish Parliament on April 16, Patrick Harvie stated that exemptions can be given but Ms Grant said he did not give detail on what criteria would need to be met, instead stating that flexibility will be necessary for certain circumstances.
Ms Grant commented: “There needs to be clear, unambiguous reassurances from Patrick Harvie on what exemptions will be granted on these rules. I have written to him expressing the great need to provide assurances to homeowners urgently on this matter.
“This regulation is poorly thought out and the communication has been even worse. This is an example of central-belt policy where considerations of rural homeowners have gone up in smoke – ironically, unlike their woodpiles.”
