MSP seeks Holyrood debate on controversial 'woodstove ban'

This week the Convener of Holyrood’s Cross-Party Group on Islands, MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston, called for a debate to raise awareness about the "potentially serious consequences".

The Highlands and Islands Conservative MSP said: "For those living in our rural and island communities, wood-burning stoves are not a luxury item, they are an emergency lifeline, providing vital heat, hot water and a means of cooking when the power goes out.

“It is vital that Scottish ministers in Edinburgh are left in no doubt of the anger and concern their decision has caused."

In Holyrood on April 16, Mr Halcro Johnston questioned the Scottish Government Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Green MSP for Glasgow Patrick Harvie, on the move.

He said: "The minister claimed woodburning stoves could be allowed for emergency heating, but the updated technical guidance states clearly that in smaller buildings, including dwellings, there will be little justification for emergency heating.

"It also states that any emergency heating must only be used in emergencies, should be connected to the normal heating system, and requires an electrical back-up power.

"So where previously a wood burner would have been enough to provide heat and cooking facilities when power is lost, now homeowners who want a wood burner must connect it to their central heating system and connect it to an emergency power source.

"What is more remarkable is that the most practical electrical back-up in most rural cases will likely to be from a diesel generator. Hardly a green solution, but now made a necessity by a Green minister.

"Given the technical and cost implications of this, and while the Scottish Government will desperately claim otherwise, this is a ban on woodstoves in all but name."

Mr Harvie replied that the government had "extensively consulted" rural stakeholders, in two consultations.

He added: "As with other aspects of our building standards system, when there is a need for discretion and the inability to apply any particular aspect of building standards, that flexibility is always there and will continue to be so.

"The new-build heat standard, alongside high energy efficiency standards for new builds, is necessary to drive down carbon emissions. We are convinced that we can do that in a way that tackles fuel poverty."