No smoke without fire?

With an English national smoking ban soon to be in force, South Hams Friends of the Earth have appealed to their local pubs, cafes and restaurants not to install climate-busting patio heaters.

In the run-up to the ban, companies have been deliberately targeting pubs and similar businesses, trying to sell patio heaters for outdoor smoking shelters.

A recent report by the Market Transformation Programme estimates that there are between 3,000 and 12,500 patio heaters in the hospitality sector (pubs and restaurants), and 63,000 in the domestic sector. They estimate that domestic patio heaters could produce a total of 140,000 tones of carbon dioxide per year. This is roughly equivalent to the CO2 emissions from all the homes in Bath.

Steve Melia, spokesman for South Hams Friends of the Earth, said:

"Concern about climate change is particularly strong here in the South Hams. We would urge local businesses not to ignore the concerns of their customers by installing these climate-busting devices, which pour energy straight into the atmosphere. If businesses use the excuse 'customers are asking for it' we need customers to give them the message 'don't install these things on our account'".

The local group have published a leaflet for customers to give to the owners or managers of local businesses with, or considering patio heaters, expressing customer disapproval.

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