Defra stance on coal burning. Have your say now ....

This could seriously impact steam traction (even unintentionally ) if the outcome is a ban on coal burning in the UK.

Reps of heritage railways need to input into this information gathering exercise BEFORE 27th Feb 2018 !!

"Defra is seeking information on the use of solid fuels such as house coal, manufactured solid fuel and wood for domestic heating, and the impact that changes to the availability of these fuels would have on consumers and businesses."


Call for Evidence - Domestic Burning of House Coal, Smokeless Coal, Manufactured Solid Fuel and Wet Wood

https://consult.defra.gov.uk/airquality/domestic-burning-of-wood-and-coal/

 

I think the key word is 'domestic'. So not industrial use or heritage railway.

 

Passed to me by a major supplier of heritage railway coal. They are concerned as soon there will be zero coal burnt in power stations. Without power station use importing becomes uneconomic and domestic supplies under current extraction licences are running out.

I'm putting this out there for info - what you do with it is up to you.

 

Well I tried filling it in but it is all about domestic use......

 

Fair dos. Just makes you wonder if DEFRA are aware of heritage use?

 

And just as relevant - would they care?

 

Probably not. But if they are actually attempting to eradicate coal burning on the UK then as I said above, heritage use could be come collateral damage.

Anyway, I'll leave it there, as clearly it will all be alright on the night.

 

Inclusion of wood is an odd one. Over the past few years, wood burning stoves have been heavily promoted as a carbon-neutral alternative to fossil fuels. Fireworks lie ahead, methinks.

 

Yes, I've seen concern regarding wood burning stoves elsewhere recently.

 

I think it was in the Evening Standard last winter that a high level of particulate pollution in some areas of London originated from woodburning stoves.

Cheers, Neil

 

just making sure people can't provide their own heat without having to resort multi national corporations.

 

if my experience of surveys is anything to go be the best policy is to say nowt

filling in "helpful"surveys has done massive damage to angling and it is ongoing . DEFRA is now sniffing around banning some forms of angling on the grounds that fish feel pain . maybe they do = who can tell? , but this could be the early shots in banning catch and release angling as practiced by many in the UK.
this would mean that you kill all you catch ,wanted or not ,and the likelihood is those fish will end up in somebody's dustbin ,rather than back in the water where many will survive .---its a very difficult subject and not for these pages please

I am not wishing to start an angling thread , simply suggest to people that info supplied to surveys can be manipulated in many ,sometimes unforeseen ways.

 

including dioxins . there was some stuff on the BBC about this last year . burning treated timber is a bad idea . low level chimneys are another bad idea

 

Certainly true for those chemically treated with fungicide. There was a bit about this (in a different context) on a documentary a few days ago. In the case of recovered pallets, there's meant to be an ident ("MH" IIRC) indicating they're unsuitable for burning.

Ooh ... a fellow cynic! There may be a case for restricting wood as a fuel in urban areas (doesn't the Clean Air Act already cover this?), but I can see no good reason for a blanket ban on use of coppiced wood from sustainable sources, at least in stoves of more recent and efficient design ensuring improved combustion. If a case is being claimed (by who?), where does that leave agricultural burning? Many conservative held seats are in rural areas ... watch this space (how's that for cynical?).

 

It says “We are not considering banning domestic burning.“

 

Quite. Never let the facts get in the way if a np thread.

If people actually took time to read the document then we would perhaps have a better debate or maybe even no thread at all.

 

yet-----

environmental issues have a habit of gaining legs and running in unexpected directions . this is something we should watch and fight our corner early .

the usual process involves "stakeholder consultations"

these are rarely publicised adequately , but basic policy will be formed at these meetings . by the time people wake up to what is going on it is too damn late .

 

I give up. Go and read the docunent and the questionnare . This is about domestic fuel. There is no ability to comment on nor any question s relating to steam locomotives or the use of coal or any other fuel in industrial processes.

If any one wants to complete the questionnaire in relation to steam locomotives they will a) find it near impossible;b) wasting their time; c) waste the department's time.

 

Wood burning in cities is definitely a no-no healthwise.
It's at least 1% of the car fumers, particularly diesels.
The higher cost of coal will affect you. Have you thought of clubbing together and buying a mine of good British coal?