Keeping your home warm and our air clean

Low temperatures mean many people across the district will be firing up their wood-burning stoves or enjoying an open fire at home.

For #CleanAirNight, we are reminding residents lucky enough to keep warm and toasty in this way to follow some simple steps to help keep the air we breath as clean as possible.

They include:

✅ buying Ready To Burn fuel
✅ letting wet or unseasoned wood dry out properly for two years before burning
✅ using smokeless fuels rather than house coal
✅ not burning waste wood like old furniture or household rubbish
✅ using an Ecodesign Ready stove to reduce particulate emissions by up to 80%
✅ getting your stove serviced regularly
✅ getting your chimney swept twice a year
✅ burning less fuel if your house is already warm enough
✅ installing a carbon monoxide monitor

💬 Cllr Mel Dawkins, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, said: “As temperatures remain chilly, it’s understandable that people want to enjoy the warmth and cosiness of wood burning at home.

💬 “But smoke from chimneys affects the air we all breathe and can cause difficulties for those with respiratory conditions.

💬 “By following these simple steps, residents can keep their homes warm, save money and help improve the district’s air quality.”

Published: 23 January 2026