Herald - Issue 387

Page 14 • The HERALD • 2nd April 2020 v READ THE HERALD ONLINE: www.herald-publishing.co.uk v • New flooring & repairs • Interior & exterior fitted windows & doors  • Fitted kitchens • Stairs & decking  • Architrave & skirting  • Pergolas & car ports • Gates made & fitted   • Bespoke Summer houses   • Garden structures & landscaping structures  • Roofing & Fencing • Fencing • Structural wooden repairs James Powell Carpentry Jamespowellcarpentry .co.uk and find on Check a Trade Contact 07500 113098 Call for a no obligation quote MR SWEEP THE CHIMNEY SWEEP keep it clean - keep it safer Open fires, wood burners, stoves etc. Both private and commercial properties Member of the Guild of Master Sweeps Tel: 07971 280906 www.mrsweeplymington.com email: mrsweeplymington@gmail.com 38 Bath Road, Lymington SO41 3SB Send your local news to The Editor, The Herald, 2 High Street, Hythe SO45 6AH or email editor@herald-publishing.co.uk FIRES: THE FACTS NOT THE FICTION Information supplied by Mr Sweep, Member of the Guild of Master Sweeps Just lately the environment has rarely been out of the headlines. ere has been a lot of negativity about domestic heating appliances, such as woodburners and open res, causing pollution. So, it’s about time we all had the truth. In March 2018 members of the solid fuel industry, including chimney sweep organisations, had a meeting with the Government regarding the Clean Air Policy. From this came the Burnright Campaign (Burnright. co.uk). It does not promote any one manufacturer or organisation. It has been formed to educate people on the best and cleanest way of using domestic, solid fuel appliances. Further information can been found at: www.gov.uk/government/ consultations/air-quality-using- cleaner-fuels-for-domestic-burning e main facts that most of us need to know are: e Government aren’t going to ban stoves or open res or ban future sales of stoves, but from 2022 all new stoves will have to be 80% e cient. You do not need to change your old stove but if your stove is more than 10 years old then it’s worth considering. e new stoves are far more e cient. A stove is eco-friendlier than an open re and as a guide, a stove is 9 times (80%) more e cient than an open re. e Government is not going to stop the sale of wood and coal. But what it will do is stop the sale of wet wood (wood with a moisture content of more than 20%), in volumes under 2 cubic meters. Any wet wood sold in volumes over 2 cubic meters for the purpose of domestic combustion must be sold with the relevant advice on how to season the wood before it is used as fuel. All pre-packaged bituminous house coal sales will cease in 2021. Sales of loose coal will have until 2022. is will only a ect domestic sales. ere is variety of very good alternative fuels out there. Some, such as heat logs, are made from compressed sawdust, co ee logs are made from co ee grounds, wine logs made from the skins of grapes and bracken is also used. Wood burners are not the problem, but the way they are used can be. Here are a few tips to help you burn better. • Don’t burn rubbish, such as plastics or paper. • Use relighters - natural ones are very good. • Do not shut the re down to much or try to keep it going overnight – this creates a lot of pollution. • Have your ue swept at least once per year. We all breathe the same air At the beginning of March e Herald received the following letter: Dear Sir/Madam Re: Outstanding Care at Badgers Holt Residential Care Home for the Elderly There is so much negative publicity regarding the care sector – I feel compelled to comment on my Mother’s personal experience. Having entered Badgers Holt, Hythe in October 2019 and recently returning there following a month’s hospitalisation – the level of care, professionalism and dignity given, can only be described as truly exceptional. The proprietor Mrs T Rayner and every member of staff move heaven and earth to accommodate each and every resident’s needs. Recognition of this level of care deserves to be noted and applauded. Yours faithfully, Mrs Anne Stone (Address supplied) Superb Care Home