The city council’s proposed restrictions on householders using wood burning stoves will hit the “poorer people of Oxford” and will damage “neighbour and community relations”, a critic has argued. 

Oxford City Council will discuss new restrictions on wood burning stoves next Wednesday (September 14), with the proposal setting out plans to revoke the existing 23 smoke control orders and to replace them with a single Smoke Control Order.

The proposed restrictions are aimed at reducing the risk of harmful emissions from the uncontrolled burning of solid fuels from open fireplaces and indoor burners.

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However, Conservative and the county council’s shadow member for public health and inequalities, Kieron Mallon, accused “champagne socialists” of increasing restrictions on burner appliances this was the “only way to heat homes” for “many people in Oxford”.

Oxford Mail: Kieron MallonKieron Mallon

Mr Mallon said: “So called liberals on the city council seek to ban these types of fires which for many of them may seem a fashion accessory.

“But, to the poorer people of Oxford they may be the only means of heating their homes throughout the winter.”

The council said the restrictions would be enforced if “smoke from the chimney of a domestic or commercial building” was seen and this would lead to fines of between £175 and £300 being issued.

Residents and businesses can only use approved burner appliances and authorised fuels, including many “ecofuels”, firelogs and briquettes.

Oxford Mail: A file picture of a wood burner A file picture of a wood burner (Image: Charlotte Smith-Jarvis)

In addition to this, the council spokesman said: “Those found to be selling or buying unauthorised fuel for use without an approved appliance in a Smoke Control Area can face fines of up to £1,000.”

Mr Mallon said it appeared to him that the enforcement of the restrictions would lead to a reliance on “neighbours snooping on each other to look out for smoke coming out of the chimneys”.

He said: “This can’t be very good for neighbour and community relations.”

Labour city councillor and cabinet member for Zero Carbon Oxford and Climate Justice, Anna Railton, said: “Although less than 10 per cent of households in the UK have wood burning stoves, government data shows that these stoves release more small particles than all the vehicles on all of the roads in the UK.”

Oxford Mail: City councillor Anna RailtonCity councillor Anna Railton (Image: Oxford City Council)

Ms Railton said “growing evidence” showed that “breathing fine particulates can lead to asthma, lung cancer and dementia”.

Bonfires and barbecues would not be affected by the proposal if approved as they are not covered by Smoke Control Areas.

House boats will also qualify for an exemption.

Ms Railton wants a Smoke Control Area and greater restrictions on wood burners to go further than exclusively Oxford and called for the “government to introduce a single Smoke Control Area across the whole country”.