The woodsure scheme, do we need it?

[BARNSLEY BOB]

No need for any of this as CPL has ceased supply of wet logs to garage forecourts.
Imported kilndried now.

[Billhook]

Just had another look at this excellent thread from April 2020 on the economics of kiln drying firewood

 

 

 

[Stillburning]

On 07/06/2021 at 11:44, WhiteHorseEnergy said:

Most firewood companies already followed the ready to burn scheme anyway, the only difference now is that all firewood providers must comply, otherwise it could negatively affect their business. Smaller suppliers do have until next year to join the scheme though. 

 

I'm going to publish an article in response to the concerns in this forum and to sum up the details, because the information available online is very heavy going and to be honest, it took me a long while to understand it fully. When it's published, I'm hoping it would be okay to share it on this forum. I'm on the marketing team at a firewood company so I spend a lot of time doing research around the topic, and I want to help people stay informed in any way I can! 

I think that is a good idea.

 

I've sent you a PM detailing my concerns, the main one being that having been told all of my bags had to be labelled with the logo after 1st May I found out quite by chance that this is not now the case as long as the logo is displayed at the point of sale or printed on the invoice.

 

I have sent a further email to Woodsure asking if they will update all scheme members regarding this matter and any others that may have changed.

 

In my exchange of emails with Woodsure yesterday they provided this link to leave a review, Woodsure Reviews | Read Customer Service Reviews of woodsure.co.uk (trustpilot.com, I'm considering whether to leave an honest review of my experiences or whether this will have repurcussions.

[Gav73]

I'm considering whether to leave an honest review of my experiences or whether this will have repurcussions.

Careful - all the other reviews say how excellent they’ve been! Oh and the vast majority of the reviews were invited reviews….

[WhiteHorseEnergy]

On 16/06/2021 at 08:48, Stillburning said:

I think that is a good idea.

 

I've sent you a PM detailing my concerns, the main one being that having been told all of my bags had to be labelled with the logo after 1st May I found out quite by chance that this is not now the case as long as the logo is displayed at the point of sale or printed on the invoice.

 

I have sent a further email to Woodsure asking if they will update all scheme members regarding this matter and any others that may have changed.

 

In my exchange of emails with Woodsure yesterday they provided this link to leave a review, Woodsure Reviews | Read Customer Service Reviews of woodsure.co.uk (trustpilot.com, I'm considering whether to leave an honest review of my experiences or whether this will have repurcussions.

I was on the phone to Robert from Woodsure this morning and he indeed confirmed that you don't need the label on every single bag. As long as the logo is presented on an invoice, or on a poster next to a pallet older, or on a crate, then that's acceptable. So far I haven't really seen this piece of information specified on their website so I was also unsure until today. 

[Peasgood]

I expect if you really dug into it there is nothing in the rules that actually cover it and Robert has just made it up. Give it a bit more time and you will be told exactly where the logo must be displayed, what colour it has to be, what font type and size any wording must be and exact measurements and weights of every load you sell along with a certificate of the exact moisture content as measured by their calibrated meter.

Thin end of the wedge this lot and will go down the same road as Red Tractor and all the other "assurance" schemes out there.

People have been buying logs for thousands of years and now the seller needs a certification scheme? Can't believe people are going along with it tbh then again non of the other certification schemes are much different. We are supposed to be a country of shopkeepers, more like a country of clipboard holders and box tickers these days.

[arboriculturist]

However galling, Ready to burn is hear to stay.

 

Having communicated with several other retailers and Woodsure they have most of the loopholes covered for those who had planned to rely on finding them.

 

For instance, if you are stopped travelling with less than 2m3 loose on the back of your vehicle, they will investigate and test the timber and if not Ready to burn, £ 300 fixed penalty if 1st offence.

 

2m3 deliveries of non - Ready to burn has to be on the same vehicle delivered at 1 drop, no exceptions.

Plus checks can made of where delivery is going.

 

Its a shame as if they had kept with the original Hetas 25% MC for Firewood, a lot of small retailers would still be able to continue providing the great service and quality product they have done for years.

[Peasgood]

Have they started recruiting the log police yet? WTF is this country coming to FFS!

You can have child porn on your phone and get away with it as long as you are black, female and a police officer, never mind what manner of things you can get away with if you live in a caravan but woe betide anybody selling a log without paying for a certificate.

Edited June 17, 2021 by Peasgood

[arboriculturist]

Just now, Peasgood said:

Have they started recruiting the log police yet? WTF is this country coming to FFS!

I've past that stage now and accepted its here to stay and jumped through all the long line of hoops, despite there being far easier ways to make a living.

[Big J]

This whole scheme will be in the evidence dossier in 50 years time as one of the obvious examples of how the Brits can take a good idea (ensuring that people burn dry firewood) and turn it into a complete farce.

 

Much like HS2. Having high speed public transport is great, but not if you demolish dozens of ancient woodlands along the way and at such expense that the cost equates to paying every man, woman and child in the UK almost £2500. And where is the benefit for people in Wales, Scotland or N. Ireland?

 

Or the stamp duty cut to stimulate the housing market in the wake of covid. That saving just going straight onto the asking price, pushing the price of housing up to even more unsustainable levels. 

 

I'm going to stop ranting now, before I properly start 😄