> The Highlands and Islands MSP has lodged a Scottish Parliament motion highlighting the vital role of wood-burning stoves in rural and island communities.
> He is seeking cross-party support for his motion so it can be debated in Parliament, raising awareness of the potentially serious consequences of the Scottish Government’s ban.
Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston 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.
"In my own home in Orkney, we were once left without power for 5 days because of extreme weather, and the only source of heating and cooking we had was our wood-burning stove. I know many people across the Highlands and Islands will have found themselves in a similar situation.
“That’s why the Scottish Government's decision to effectively ban wood-burning stoves in new homes shows how little they understand the needs of rural and island communities.
"I hope my Scottish Parliament motion, which highlights the vital role wood-burning stoves and other direct emission heating methods play in our rural and island communities, will raise awareness of the potentially serious consequences of the SNP/Green government effective ban.
"I urge MSP colleagues from right across the Parliament – including from the governing parties -to recognise the urgency of this issue and to support my motion.
“It is vital that Scottish ministers in Edinburgh are left in no doubt of the anger and concern their decision has caused in our rural and island communities”.
ENDS
Notes to editor
Find Jamie Halcro Johnston MSP’s motion below:
Motion Number: S6M-12917
Lodged By: Jamie Halcro Johnston
Date Lodged: 19/04/2024
Title: Importance of Wood-burning Stoves and Other Direct Emission Heating to Homes in Rural and Island Communities
Motion Text:
That the Parliament recognises what it sees as the importance of wood-burning stoves and other forms of direct emission heating in homes in rural, island and remote communities across Scotland; notes that wood-burning stoves are often the only source of heat and hot water, and method of cooking, when power is lost or when bad weather leaves households or communities isolated; further notes that the Non-domestic Technical Handbook: April 2024 Edition states that “in smaller buildings there will be little justification to install emergency heating”; considers that any emergency heating can only be used in emergencies and must be connected to both the normal heating system and an emergency power source, and that the cost and technical implications of this have led to the Scottish Government’s Building (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2023 being described as “an effective ban” on wood-burning stoves in new-build properties; believes that this will put vulnerable households in more remote areas of Scotland at greater risk when cut off or when power is lost, as well as exacerbate already high levels of fuel poverty, and recognises reports of the concern and anger that this has caused in rural and island communities across Scotland, especially in the Highlands and Islands.
Here is a link to Jamie Halcro Johnston MSP's earlier press release explaining why this is an effective ban on wood-burning stoves: https://www.jamiehalcrojohnston.org.uk/news/jamie-slams-snpgreen-woodstove-ban
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