ALBA Party raise concerns over new home heating ban

ALBA Party have today written to the Scottish Government to seek clarity on an apparent ban on log burners.

Many rural businesses have taken to social media raising concerns over the impact the policy will have on local rural businesses. ALBA have urged the Government to answer what impact the policy will have on rural jobs, fuel poverty, as well as the prospect of many new properties being left in the cold in the event of a power cut.

Analysis by Gemserv found that using a wood-burning stove in combination with gas central heating could save the average household £132 a year. Using a smokeless solid fuel as secondary heating could increase savings to £213, the equivalent of an 11.0% saving.

ALBA say they are concerned that this policy will lead to a reduction in new build homes in rural Scotland, an increase in energy bills and will leave many parts of the country vulnerable to the prospect of no heating in the event of a power cut.

According to the Scottish Government’s own Cleaner Air Strategy, released in 2021, 79% of households using solid mineral fuel in Scotland as their primary fuel type are in rural areas and around half of households (46%) using solid mineral fuels in Scotland are fuel poor compared to the national average of 25%.

Commenting an ALBA Party spokesperson said:

“There is much concern in regard to the impact of this policy. Rural businesses think it will devastate their livelihoods, it will lead to an increase in household energy bills and it will leave many people across Scotland vulnerable to the prospect of being left in the cold in the event of an all to common power cut.

“ALBA Party’s Holyrood leader Ash Regan MSP has now put these issues to the Scottish Government. Those that rely on these heating systems require an urgent answer from the Government to set out its position.”