The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Concern stove ban threatens isles tradition
It is an area where peat has been used for centuries to heat homes. Now Western Isles Council is seeking “urgent classification” from the Scottish Government about the “over-zealous” woodburning stove ban.
Council leader Paul Steele said: “The definitions within the amendments to the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004 are confused and confusing.
“Comhairle (council) officers have been seeking clarity around the regulation and we await that clarity from government.
“Wood-burning stoves have long been considered to provide ‘low or zerocarbon’ heating, so this change appears overzealous and does not take into account island contexts.
“This looks, once again, like an urban-style policy being foisted on to island communities without proper consideration of island circumstances.”
Torcuil Crichton, the Labour candidate for Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Western Isles), has also slammed the building regulations which would spell an end to solid fuel heating and wood-burning stoves in new-build houses.
Mr Crichton said: “Left to stand, these regulations will in time mean goodbye to the peat-burning stove and effectively outlaw the tradition of peat-cutting.
“You only cut peats for one reason – to burn them in your stove, and under these regulations having a solid-fuel stove in a new house will be against the law.”
Former SNP leadership hopeful Kate Forbes has led the backlash at the ban being quietly introduced, saying wood burners are “essential” for some in rural Scotland.
The MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch condemned those who have dismissed concerns by highlighting it is only for new-builds and people should have been aware the rules were coming, saying: “My inbox suggests most in rural Scotland disagree.
“Also new-builds face the same power cuts, fuel poverty and local wood source that make woodburners essential.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Proposals in the new-build Heat Standard were widely consulted on in 2021 and 2022. Both showed strong support.
“Existing homes are unaffected as the standard will not apply to the installation of heating in buildings built before 2024.”