Sheffield City Council Leader Tom Hunt has written a letter calling on Defra to stop the “destructive practice” of grouse moor burning, which caused a huge pall of toxic smoke to blanket Sheffield this autumn.
On 9 October, wealthy owners of two moorland estates, Moscar and Strines, sent Sheffield air pollution levels soaring four to eight times over the UK legal limits after they set fire to their moors. The fires are set by gamekeepers to stimulate the growth of new heather shoots, which grouse like to eat.
“Grouse moors have demonstrated utter disregard for communities in Sheffield,” wrote Wild Moors, a group dedicated to protecting the moors. In addition to causing air pollution, grouse moor burning also damages the environment and makes flooding worse.
The Moorland Association, which represents the owners of the grouse moors, said: “In October smoke from controlled burns on moors close to Sheffield did regrettably cause an issue for local residents.”
In a letter to Steve Barclay MP, Secretary of State for the Environment, Councillor Hunt wrote: “We all know that air pollution kills and that air pollution from fires has an immediate impact on hospital admissions and A&E attendances. The burning of heather, simply speaking, makes it harder for Sheffield to achieve its air quality improvement ambitions.
“I hope you will take action to end this destructive practice and to put pressure on landowners to put an immediate end to it this season.”
Air pollution from burning peatlands is much more toxic than pollution from cars. Research has found that only an hour of wildfire smoke exposure can lead to increases in ambulance calls. When the smoke drifted across the Sheffield, residents reported asthma attacks and difficulty breathing.
While Councillor Hunt called on Defra to stop the practice, he said the City Council “has limited to no powers to compel landowners to behave responsibly.”
At least one council member disagreed. Green Party City Ward Councillor Douglas Johnson said. “I think it was disappointing to focus on what the council can’t do instead of what it can.”
Bob Berzins, a long-time moorland campaigner, also disagreed. He said: “Sheffield Council does have powers to issue a smoke abatement notice against the moor owners and I’m asking Tom Hunt to do everything he can to ensure this happens.”
Councillor Hunt’s letter comes after efforts from South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard and Sheffield Hallam MP Olivia Blake to prevent future burns.
