Pulse.Assent

Some of the UK’s leading retailers are taking important steps to encourage their customers to buy cleaner fuels to heat their homes and reduce the impact on their health and the environment.

Around 38% of particulate matter emissions in the UK come from burning wood and coal in the home, a major contributor to air pollution.

But it is possible to reduce emissions significantly by burning drier, cleaner, more efficient products. Retailers including ASDA and B&Q have been encouraging and incentivising customers to purchase ‘Ready to Burn’ wood and ‘smokeless’ products.

More than fifty companies are now signed up to the ‘Ready to Burn’ scheme and firewood and briquettes with the Woodsure ‘Ready to Burn’ logo are available from local stove stores through to large outlets, including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, B&Q and Wickes.

Following the launch of the ambitious Clean Air Strategy, the government held a consultation on proposals to phase out the most polluting fuels. This closed on Friday and the government will be analysing the responses and announcing next steps in due course.

Environment Minister Thérèse Coffey said:

Burning dirty fuels to heat a home is a huge contributor to air pollution and I warmly welcome this commitment from retailers to help move consumers to burning cleaner fuels for this winter.

I encourage all stores to follow their lead, and for all users to stop using wet wood and smoky coal to reduce the amount of harmful pollution to which they unwittingly expose themselves, their families and the environment. Dried wood and smokeless coal make for a better fire both heatwise and healthwise.

Retailers are carrying out a wide range of actions to help consumers switch to cleaner, alternative fuels:

• Lidl have committed to only sell wood that adheres to Woodsure conditions, meaning consumers have a guarantee that the fuel meets specified standards, including having the right moisture content and being sourced from sustainably managed woodland.
• B&Q has trained store colleagues on the benefits of cleaner fuels and more efficient stoves and heaters to help educate their customers.
• Asda has removed non-kiln dried wood logs and house coal from all of its London stores, guiding customers towards making better choices.
• Tesco has produced in-store advertising promoting the benefits of “Ready to Burn” solid fuels and where to find them in store.
• Booker, which provides stock for newsagents and convenience stores across the country, has confirmed it will be including “Ready to Burn” products as part of their autumn/winter range.

The commitments come during the first ever Green GB Week – celebrating the UK’s progress in tackling climate change while galvanising support for further action to protect our environment.

Ryan McDonnell, Lidl UK’s Commercial Board Director, said:

At Lidl UK we take our environmental responsibilities very seriously and are proud to source and sell dry wood which adheres to the quality specifications set out by Woodsure.

As well as an intention to phase out the most polluting fuels, the government’s Clean Air Strategy sets out that only the cleanest stoves will be available for sale by 2022. Stove retailers are clear that quality fuels are an important part of ensuring that modern stoves work as efficiently as possible, helping to minimize emissions.

Mark Smith from the Whitstable Stove Shop said:

If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a stove retailer, it’s that the quality of the wood burnt in a log burner is all important and it’s a false economy to do otherwise.

The consistency of ‘Ready to Burn’ approved logs has ensured our customers have been happy with the performance of their stoves.

Together, burning cleaner fuels and using modern efficient appliances produces less smoke, soot, and more heat, protecting consumers and the environment. burnright.co.uk include tips on what more you can do such as upgrading your appliance, getting your chimney swept regularly by a registered chimney sweep, and avoiding slumbering appliances overnight.

Many urban areas are Smoke Control Areas, in which it is only legal to burn using an exempted stove, or use an authorised fuel. This means burning wood or coal on an open fire is not permitted. Check the requirements for smoke control areas in your local area, then make sure you are burning clean, high quality fuel on your Defra Exempt stove by looking for the Defra-supported ‘Ready to Burn’ logo on wood fuels.

The Charity Commission has discharged the interim managers of an educational charity under statutory inquiry. The regulator considers that the protective measure is no longer required at Grangewood Educational Association after changes to its governance.

An inquiry was opened into the charity that runs Grangewood Independent School, Newham on 15 April 2018 due to serious concerns about the charity’s management and administration at the time. The regulator’s intervention followed a short notice decision to close the school and complaints about the charity’s governance and management. The Commission used its powers under the Charities Act to freeze the charity’s bank accounts and appoint Geoff Carton-Kelly and Jason Daniel Baker as joint interim managers of the charity.

On 31 August 2018 the interim managers were discharged following the appointment of three new independent trustees, which replaced the sole former trustee. The new board of trustees has taken over full control of the day-to-day management and administration of the charity, which has objects to promote and provide for the advancement of education in accordance with the doctrines and principles of the Christian faith.

The school has remained open throughout the inquiry and commenced the autumn term on Monday 3 September 2018. Further enquiries regarding the school should be made directly to the school office. Contact details can be found on the charity’s website.

The Commission’s inquiry, which continues, has already met with the former sole trustee, the business manager of the school and the headmistress. The new trustees have committed to fully cooperate with the ongoing inquiry.

The Commission intends to publish a report setting out its findings and conclusions in due course.

Ends

Notes to editors

1. The Charity Commission is the independent regulator of charities in England and Wales. To find out more about our work see the about us page on GOV.UK.
2. Search for charities on our check charity tool.
3. Section 46 of the Charities Act 2011 gives the Commission the power to institute inquiries. The opening of an inquiry gives the Commission access to a range of investigative, protective and remedial legal powers.