Jump to content

Recommended Posts

"The dangers posed by wood burners in urban areas have become increasingly clear in recent years. Emissions from wood burners result in almost £1bn in health costs a year and are responsible for nearly half the cancer risk caused by urban air pollution."


https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/feb/14/wood-burning-air-pollution-uk-doubled-decade.


So - where can you smell them being used. I only started this thread as the smoke coming from one on Melbourne Grove South was triggering my asthma. Should they be banned in urban areas, or regulated in some way?

The number of houses on Trossachs road with a stack of wood outside the front door would seem to indicate that it’s nearly every house on Trossachs on both sides. It’s not an outlier but the wider porches clearly leave storage - also lots of houses done up on there at totally the wrong time in terms of the wood burner delusion!
I explained quite clearly that there are visible from the street piles of wood in many of the doorways. So on that basis people in those houses are burning wood. Unless it’s a weird style statement ‘pile of wood in the porch gives your house a rustic feel’ that i was previously unaware of!

I was tickled to see George Monbiot decided he could no longer use his.


On this one I agree. I love a woodburner or open fire, who doesn't. However, having read the data I just don't see how anyone living in the city can use one with a clear conscience. If it really is your only source of heating then there may be a case and you live in the Scottish Highlands then that is different, but in London...? No.

Wood burners should be banned, they emit 750 times more pollution than an HGV....


From what I understand most of East Dulwich is a smoke controlled area, you only have to walk outside on a cold day/night to understand this is not being adhered to, but the policing of this is non existent, they have neither the numbers or the budget to keep on top of it.

That was a daft comment and is not in the slightest bit helpful. It

also made me login on my mobile, I've not posted for tonks on it. So that shows how silly it was.


Funnily enough you should alert the local authority but not sure how they would respond. We have a neighbour I expect has been burning unseasoned wood and the street smelt like a bonfire


I know shed loads on the subject, PMs from wood burners has been known about for at least a decade but I expect DEFRA/government does not want to upset either nice metropolitan professionals or middle England country folk.


Of course these nice urban professionals should know better.


More later when I have a proper keyboard. Back to mobile phone exile

Not all burners are bad. Not all fuel is bad. Some burners exceed current legislation. Some fuel, especially that made from what would otherwise be wasted sawdust or coffee grounds etc., burns exceptionally cleanly.

Burning unseasoned wood or coal that’s not been treated should be reported (but what about bonfires and barbecues…)

I have had them in holiday let’s, and the child in me loves a bit of flame and heat, but once you understand the cellular pathology connected to particulates it is a very dangerous pleasure and very selfish too.

I hadn’t really noticed the smell in ED but they must have been burning some green wood in Melbourne because although it psychologically smelt of childhood bonfire nights it triggered my first asthma attack of the year.

I suppose I also connected it to the LTN argument as well, surely if we are supposedly encouraging active travel, we should be banning or at least regulating such a polluting and lethal activity?

It is regulated. A general plea to all, do a bit of research before you post. Well at least this forum isn't as alarmist as WhatsApp and Twitter - big dig at the Street WhatsApp that even has a nutter antivaxer who posts all types of conspiracy theory.


Back to the subject, smokeless area, ban on some solid fuels including wet wood and burners need to be approved, properly fitted etc. More regulation is needed.....

It is regulated. A general plea to all, do a bit of research before you post. Well at least this forum isn't as alarmist as WhatsApp and Twitter - big dig at the Street WhatsApp that even has a nutter antivaxer who posts all types of conspiracy theory.


Back to the subject, smokeless area, ban on some solid fuels including wet wood and burners need to be approved, properly fitted etc. More regulation is needed.....

  Quote

It is regulated. A general plea to all, do a bit of research before you post. Well at least this forum isn't as alarmist as WhatsApp and Twitter - big dig at the Street WhatsApp that even has a nutter antivaxer who posts all types of conspiracy theory.


Back to the subject, smokeless area, ban on some solid fuels including wet wood and burners need to be approved, properly fitted etc. More regulation is needed.....

 

What kind of regulation did you have in mind? How would such a regulation be carried out?

Mums for Lungs do a good free flyer about woodburning that can be ordered online. Maybe pop it through doors with a woodpile outside to help raise awareness? Agree it’s a serious problem.


https://www.mumsforlungs.org/resources-and-downloads

Sorry should have said better regulation as most of powers there already. Messaging from government doesn't help. DEFRA approved burners doesn't mean that they do not pollute. Tightening of standards would help to bring in filtering or scrubbing of emissions would be a start. In the same way that modern cars emit a fraction of the PMs that they did 15 years ago. Search DEFRA approved burners and all you get is stuff from manufacturers and suppliers,one I read talked about conspiracy theories and anti-wood burners, but gave no details

Lol

Maybe the residents are collecting wood to burn the demonising people who disagree with their point of view (pro or anti) as outlined in the current LTN discussion 🤔


Can't wait till the mob roams around the streets of ED with burning torches crying "kill the monsters" because that's how it's starting to feel on the Forum lately 🙄

I thought this thread, unlike the LTN one, was a safe space for a good debate. Anyway my posts are almost always in good spirit, often with humour (maybe too subtle for some, even when I am being self deprecatory), and well informed. You of course can disagree with me.


At times I do have to stifle a 'for Christsake, get a life' but that would not be appropriate for this forum (maybe some of the rabid stuff on Next Door).

There is one behind my house. They also have a fire pit in the garden and during lockdown decided it was a good idea to burn household rubbish including plastic. During the summer I can’t open my windows. They even have a big chimney fitted. I reported it to the council who did nothing
  Quote

There is one behind my house. They also have a fire pit in the garden and during lockdown decided it was a good idea to burn household rubbish including plastic. During the summer I can’t open my windows. They even have a big chimney fitted. I reported it to the council who did nothing

 

That's awful.


Have you spoken to the people concerned about the burning plastic in particular?


If the council did nothing, you could try asking your councillor to chase it up if it happens again on a regular basis?

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Latest Discussions

    • Hi everyone, we are trying to finslise our decision for enrolling our son for 3+ from September and currently considering Dulwich Prep or Herne Hill. We like both and appreciate there is no right or wrong answer but what we like about HH is great focus on early years and also being coed. However if we can avoid the 7+ stress then prefer to do that. Dulwich Prep is closer but the difference is not significant. we know children are very active and busy in DP and they have great facilities, but unlike HH, we don’t know much about their focus on personal development and emotional intelligence, etc! Also not sure about long-term impact of being in boys only school. Difficult decision for us and we appreciate feedback from parents if you can share please.    thank you
    • Yeah that was their old policy. Their new policy is to force you to have a water meter and if you refuse they put you on a punitively high tariff which effectively forces you to have one. I was doing well with my policy of polite resistance which was to say yes fine I'll have one fitted but then not actually book an appointment or cancel the appointments they made. But then I was persuaded that it would be much cheaper anyway. 
    • Lots of lovely lilac shrubs in flower at the moment. Would anyone consider giving me a cutting? It would involve digging out a basal off shoot, roots and all. I'd love one for my new garden but I'm so broke that I have to fill it with plants the slow way!
    • You are welcome to have mine for free. I was just about to post! Three panels - 6ft by 5ft - weathered/natural on one side and painted brown on the other.
Home
Events
Sign In

Sign In



Or sign in with one of these services

Search
×
    Search In
×
×
  • Create New...