Home owners won't be hauled before courts for lighting a fire
By Conor Sharkey
AN AMNESTY has been brought into force in Strabane to ensure that anyone who lit an open fire over Christmas will not be hauled before the Courts.
That's the cast iron assurance to householders from Strabane Council this week
A total of 26 homes were detected with the open fires lit throughout December as people struggled to meet the rising cost of oil.
Most householders will have received letters warning them they could face prosecution if they repeatedly flaunt the laws governing Clean Air in Strabane.
On Tuesday night however, the body's Environmental Health Chief Paddy Cosgrove confirmed there are no plans to drag anyone before the courts.
He stressed the amnesty applied only to the festive period. Council officials will continue to monitor the situation following the thaw and take appropriate action where necessary, he said.
Springhill Park Community leader Paul Gallagher has been calling for a relaxation of the Clean Air laws since the recent cold snap took hold.
He argued that many residents have resorted to burning old shoes and scrap wood because they can't afford oil.
"I know people who have been burning anything they can just to generate a bit of heat over the recent cold spell.
"I also know some of them have received letters from the Council regarding possible fines if they continue to light their fires.
"So if that threat has now been lifted, it will help because I know some people, particularly pensioners were worried.
"At the end of the day if people had the money to pay fines they would have bought oil with it in the first place.
"The bottom line is that they have had to light their fires because of the big freeze when they couldn't afford oil.
"It's definitely good news and I'm sure it will be welcomed in many local communities."
While welcoming the news, Mr Gallagher added that a long term solution to the fuel poverty issue still needed to be found.
"You can't take your eye off the ball on this issue and we have to keep looking at new initiatives around fuel poverty.
"One thing we are looking at is a subsidy for low income families whereby they might a percentage of their oil bill paid for them. But it's just one thing we are looking at at the minute and hopefully something solid will be in place before next winter," the community leader added.
