They can’t forbid coal and logs when a real fire is a fundamental part of country life in Britain
sir – The Government’s announcement that it is to ban coal and “wet wood” burning by households is a disaster. Nearly every house in rural areas built before 1995 burns coal and wood. I live in a classic Lakeland slate cottage, wholly designed around the central source of heating, the wood fire.
This typically ill-thought-out policy is clearly concocted by metropolitan flat-dwelling elitists. Pandering to Extinction Rebellion in this fashion is nonsense. George Eustice, the Environment Secretary, who is from Cornwall, ought to know better.
I’m also fairly sure that many people, in a Cumbrian winter at least, will be quite ready to break the law on this issue as it is so fundamental to our rural life. Rev Richard Fothergill
Troutbeck, Cumbria
sir – This is another case of the Government using a sledgehammer to crack a nut by penalising fuel-poor consumers.
And here in Cumbria the Government is currently promoting a new deep coal mine. Patrick Tracey
Carlisle, Cumbria
sir – My wife and I were alarmed to read that the burning of domestic coal and wood is soon to be outlawed.
For 50 years we have lived in a poorly insulated 400-year-old timber-framed cottage with dodgy central heating in a rural community, traditionally neglected by successive governments, with a scant bus service, where we suffer with potholed lanes, never gritted in winter, and periodically flooded from the nearby river.
We keep warm in winter by burning coal and wood in the inglenook fireplace, the main feature of our living room. For that to be banned is a knee-jerk political move from a Government keen to be seen as environmentally aware despite the United Kingdom producing only a tiny fraction of the world’s pollutants. Martin Henry
Good Easter, Essex
sir – During the recent storms and heavy rain, the sight of a log fire, at home, or in a local pub, has greatly added to the nation’s well-being. Martin Bastone
East Grinstead, West Sussex
sir – As anyone with a wood-burning stove is aware, only seasoned wood is appropriate, as wet wood does not burn effectively.
The decision to ban the sale of coal and wet wood (which would be stored until seasoned anyway) will achieve absolutely nothing useful whatsoever and will only have alienated those in the North who voted Conservative for the first time.
In the meantime, London is responsible for 30.9 million tons of emissions annually. Perhaps the Environment Secretary should consider closing down London. Edward Eames
Liverpool
sir – In India, a country of a billion people, there are probably 200 million domestic fires burning twice a day for cooking the family meal. Then there is the rest of Asia, Africa and Latin America. Will India and the other countries in these continents ban wood-burning fires?
What will the British Government offer pensioners who only have wood-burning stoves for warmth? For them global warming could not come quickly enough.
Sir Gavin Gilbey Bt
Dornoch, Sutherland
sir – Following the government announcement of what coal and wood we won’t be able to burn, could we ask for a simple statement on how it proposes to develop energy sources capable of keeping industry productive and competitive and citizens healthy and warm?
We will then know what we can vote for in future (if we have a future). Richard Jarman
Heightington, Worcestershire
sir – Erupting volcanos should also be banned. Ian Burley
Cookham-on-thames, Berkshire
sir – Will steam trains, like the Flying Scotsman, be forced off the tracks? Edward Howell
Bishopston, Glamorgan