2019 Clean Air Strategy - a breath of fresh air

The 2019 Clean Air Strategy to tackle pollution from homes was launched by the Government today. The view of Ash & Embers is this is very welcome news.
Here are some of the key elements:
- To ensure only the cleanest burning stoves are available from 2022 -
Ash & Ember took the decision some years ago to only display & sell the cleanest burning stoves so every stove in our showroom will either be DEFRA exempt or EcoDesign Ready meeting 2022 emission standards.
- To prohibit the sale of the most polluting fuels -
There is no reason not to use kiln dried or two year seasoned wood as each year prices have fallen. Again this is all Ash & Embers sell and promote for use in our stoves. Damp wood does not burn cleanly and even if used in the best stove still produces harmful emissions.
- Make changes to existing smoke control legislation to make it easier to enforce -
Anything than can be done to stop wood being burnt on open fires is good news, particularly in metropolitan areas. It has been illegal to burn wood in smoke control areas since the 1960's but councils have failed to crack down on this practice.
Perhaps we would not be where we are now if this had been enforced?
The strategy also states that there will be a consumer awareness campaign. Better late than never!
If you fancy a read the bit relating to stoves and fires at home are on pages 57-62

​https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/770715/clean-air-strategy-2019.pdf