Smoky coal banned in Navan

A flaming coal fire will be a thing of the past for Navan households from today (Wednesday) as a ban on traditional smoky coal has been extended to the town.
The regulations will be enforced by Meath County Council who will carry out inspections on retailers, coal merchants and coal lorries.
While concern has been expressed that the smokeless fuels will add extra expense to hard-pressed households, especially as the carbon tax also came into effect today, it is believed the ban will have significant health benefits for the town.
Environmental health research has indicated that the ban in Dublin has resulted in up to 350 fewer annual deaths from respiratory diseases.
Navan is one of seven new towns to which the ban has been extended as part of a major revision of the regulations, which will also see it become an offence to burn traditional coal in the relevant towns.
Parts of County Meath which are in the suburbs of Drogheda have also been included in the ban.
In the past, it was an offence to sell or market smoky coal but under the new regulations it also make it an offence to burn it.
Navan GP Dr Niall Maguire said that in cities where the smoky coal ban has been brought in, there have been health benefits. “It is being done for sound health and environmental reasons and from a medical point of view has to be welcomed,” he said.
Local coal merchants say they are ready for the change.
Navan coal merchant Pearse Newman said local fuel suppliers already stock smokeless fuels and his firm has been selling it for 25 years.
He said that while the smokeless coal is a little bit more expensive, it is better value as it burns hotter and more consistently and with less ash. “In the long run, smokeless coal is better value,” he said.