Message for Scottish Government. If country dwellers are 'off grid' for basic services, just leave us to get on with it. If we’re on, gonnae help with serious problems like no land, buses, affordable housing, schools, childcare b4 you start micro-managing our stoves? thenational.scot/politics/24245…

Another important clarification from Andy 👇

Indeed, but Andy Wightman has explained how this might have happened in a thread this morning - not as black & white a situation as it may seem.

Holyrood Sources Andy Maciver What makes the perception in H&I 100 X worse is that every time policy concerns are raised, they are brushed aside or mainsplained away as:
- ignorance ('we did a consultation')
- result of misinformation ('bY tHe mEdiA')
- 'culture wars' (really? about a stove?) alexmassie :

This is a useful reality check for those insisting that the ban on biomass in new builds has exemptions to it which will allow rural dwellers to install biomass heating in such new homes.

See also: continuing to subsidise biomass in existing builds (because it's low carbon), but banning it from new builds (because it's not....)

Tend to agree, but I think it starts earlier than that - by the time we reach the consultation phase it's too late.

Policy development ought to be participatory - it's the sort of stuff overseas development advisers promote in 'developing' countries, but which is ignored at home

When Scottish Crofting Federation Andy Wightman Jamie McIntyre & others, who believe in sustainable, environmentally friendly heating options are expressing concerns and confusion about the proposals for wood burning stoves (in new builds only) in rural areas, I think it merits listening.

You do wonder!

It's an important point. But I have yet to see a single tweet from supporters of biomass that doesn't accept the need for controls, including a ban on use in urban areas, & minimum efficiency standards.

The wider point is that well managed woodland at a domestic scale is a low carbon heat source and sustainable.

The region also has significantly lower PM2.5 (particulate matter) emissions than say, the central belt.

Purple/blue good, yellow/green bad.

Do the maths, as they say. And here it is (thread)

Important context to the debate about the benefits, or otherwise, of banning biomass in new builds 👇

Not sure about the 'primal comfort' - I'd be quite happy to have a log boiler in an outhouse that did the job.

But it is true that burning biomass goes much wider than just providing heat - it has implications for good management of our woodlands, local economies, & resilience.

Surely if the Isle of Man Government can do it, it’s time for Scottish Government to reinstate a modernised #inshorelimit on trawling and dredging in a fair way that incentivises a transition to low-impact fishing bit.ly/inshorelimit

In my experience, as well as any general PR associated with a consultation, key stakeholders are contacted directly by letter or e-mail.

So my question is: which forestry stakeholders were contacted directly about banning #biomass in new builds, but simply failed to respond?

Eminently sensible. And this is all we're asking for - biomass is clearly inappropriate in urban areas.

So why has there been such vitriol today against rural dwellers pointing this out?

This is completely disingenuous: even if you manage to get your 'emergency' heating system past building control, you still have to install a 'normal' one as the main heat source. Who can afford to install 2 heating systems in the same house?

This is the nub of the issue
Decarbonise the grid and upscale it BEFORE banning domestic use