Calderdale Council and groups urged to join ‘noisy fireworks ban’ consultation

Faith, cultural and minority groups, local mental health charities, local animal welfare charities and service veterans’ groups should all be encouraged to have their say, according to Calderdale’s Liberal Democrats.

Halifax’s MP Kate Dearden this summer launched what the Government is calling the “biggest review of fireworks regulations in more than two decades”.

She said concerns locally raised with her include about misuse and proposals include restricting the availability of the noisiest fireworks, increasing the number of products that are banned due to unacceptable risk to communities, and reviewing the wider regulatory framework for fireworks classified as “lower risk”.

A motion from Calderdale’s Liberal Democrats scheduled for debate at Wednesday’s meeting of full Calderdale Council urges the council to respond to the consultation and promote it to other groups and organisations who would be interested.

In his motion, Coun Ashley Evans says the restriction has been proposed to reduce noise-related stress for residents and also to help tackle anti-social behaviour sometimes associated with fireworks.

Coun Evans (Lib Dem, Warley) says the consultation ends on October 7, and responses need to be made soon.

His motion notes fireworks are common throughout the world and are the focal point of many cultural and religious celebrations.

But, he says, there are “rising number of complaints about all year round noise nuisance from excessively loud fireworks”.

These impact on people, including those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, and on pets and wild animals who suffered distress as a result of fireworks.

There are also increasing numbers of incidents of anti-social behaviour with fireworks, for example on public land without permission, says Coun Evans.

As well as taking part in the consultation and promoting it to interested groups, Coun Evans’ motion urges the council to investigate how it can promote and support public firework displays to maximise attendance at these – reducing need for private displays from private properties which are more likely to take place at unpredictable hours.

He also wants the authority to investigate how the council can use public firework displays to celebrate the cultural diversity of the district and bring residents together.