Khan plans crackdown on wood burners in bid to reduce toxic air pollution

BURNING wood could be banned in some urban areas in a bid to improve air quality.

Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, is reportedly seeking powers to ban burning wood in parts of the capital with the worst air quality. Under the plans, wood-burning stoves could come under tighter controls, with only low emission models permitted to be sold in future.

Around 1.5 million homes are thought to have wood-burning stoves, while a trend for rustic decor has seen old fireplaces brought back into use in homes.

But it is feared the practice is far more harmful to the environment than other heating methods, with wood burners emitting up to a third of all toxic fine particle pollution in the capital. Research by King’s College London found the practice contributed half the toxic emissions in parts of London during a period of high pollution in January.

The Government has come under pressure to improve the UK’S air quality, with air pollution causing 9,500 early deaths a year in London and 40,000 across Britain. On Wednesday, Mr Khan triggered an alert over the “high” level of air pollution in London for the seventh time in 13 months.

Yesterday Mr Khan wrote to Michael Gove, the Environment Secretary, in an attempt to bring levels of air pollution under control, The Times reported.

If successful, the powers would enable Mr Khan to tackle pollutants such as wood-burning stoves, machinery, diesel-powered diggers and boats on the Thames.