'New rules' affect everyone with a wood burner as plan announced

The Government is launching a consultation on measures to reduce smoke emissions from wood burning stoves and bonfires as part of its updated environment plan

The Government's updated environment plan could see stricter rules for wood burners to reduce their smoke emissions. The Government announced on Monday that it will consult on ways to lessen the environmental impact of public wood burning, such as stoves and bonfires.

Under the new proposals, manufacturers of "solid fuel" stoves may need to phase out or modify older models to meet the new standards. However, this won't result in a ban on the use of older stoves that have already been sold.

In areas of the country where smoke control is enforced, pollution limits might also be tightened. These are areas where restrictions exist on