Energy saving Scots face fines
Published on : 28/01/2009
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Energy saving Scots, who have opted to burn coal or wood for heating, face £1,000 fines for breaching the Edinburgh's strict anti-pollution laws.
City officials said they wanted to raise awareness amongst thrifty Scots of the laws following an increase in the number of complaints about smoking chimneys.
Nobody has been fined so far, but the move by Edinburgh council could bring an end to people having their chimneys swept.
Councillor Robert Aldridge, the city council's environment leader, said: "The vast majority of residents are clear on what fuels they can and can't burn to heat their homes."
He added that it made sense to remind people that Ediburgh became a Smoke Control Area in 1995.
The decision to enter the smoke control scheme made it illegal to burn wood and standard coal on an open fire.
Last year city officials dealt with 55 complaints.
According to the Electric Power Research Institute, coal burning is the biggest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the US.
