The hall has no modern heating system and can only be heated by coal fires, with an exemption to Edinburgh’s smoke free status in place.
However, The Scotsman reports that following a backlash from environmental campaigners the fires will be extinguished for the first time in close to 400 years.
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The Faculty of Advocates are understood to have been told that the building will not be operational after September, when it will be too cold to use.
Typically the coal fires would be lit between October and the end of March, with 25kg bag of coal being burned every week.
Fraser Sutherland, coalition manager at Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, said: “Ending coal fires at Edinburgh’s historical Parliament Hall comes better late than never. Our forebears burned coal and wood to keep warm because that’s what they had. But the associated health problems were no secret, even in medieval times – when Edinburgh was nicknamed Auld Reekie.
“Today we also know that emissions from burning fossil fuels are the key cause of climate change.
“There is no excuse to keep living in the dark, smoggy ages. Electricity came to Scotland in the 1870s. Edinburgh’s legal professionals can keep warm using modern, low-carbon heating technology, cutting emissions and toxic air pollution at the same time.”
A spokesperson for the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service said: ““In the past, a single fire has been lit during the winter period in Parliament Hall using smokeless fuel. In support of our environmental commitments, from last winter, the fire has no longer been routinely lit.
“The offices, court rooms and other facilities used in Parliament House benefit from a modern heating system, so this change has no impact on service users or staff.”
