Parliament to debate firework ban

Parliament will debate whether fireworks should be banned from sale to the general public or not on Monday (26 November).

Currently, anyone over the age of 18 can purchase fireworks to put on their own display from home.

However, there have been growing concerns with many calling for the pyrotechnics to be banned from general sale: over 289,000 people have signed a petition calling for fireworks to be limited to licenced displays only.

• https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/231147

Reasons cited include safety, and also noise, which may affect vulnerable children and adults or pets and wildlife.

Locally, Councillor Rina Paolucci-Escobar is hoping to put a motion proposing the banning of fireworks to the public before the next full council meeting on 12 December, whilst Councillor Peter Malcolm has also called for Rochdale Borough Council to ban the sale of fireworks to the general public.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/123998/firework-ban-could-be-heard-at-next-full-council-meeting

A former firefighter, Councillor Malcolm said: “As a retired Fire Service Officer, this time of year always brings back to me the suffering of adults and children I witnessed, caused by accidental or deliberate misuse of fireworks.”

Bonfire weekend is the busiest period of the year for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, with calls peaking at one every minute: the majority of the calls received this year were accidental fires, as stray rockets veered onto an unplanned route, or bonfires built slightly too high.

Frank Hauxwell, Secretary of the Rotary Club of Rochdale East, has also urged local representatives to end the sale of fireworks.

He said: “Over 289,000 people have signed this petition, including over 1,500 from the two constituencies representing the Borough.

“This is an increase of 100% since the last petition in 2017, showing the rising public concern for the issue.

“Calls to ban the public sale of fireworks have come from the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester, senior fire officers and the British Association of Plastic surgeons: if recent trends continue, over 4,000 people will be treated this year for injuries arising from fireworks or uncontrolled bonfires.”

He continued: “Despite current regulations, loud explosions into the small hours for at least two weeks before 5 November have been heard across the borough with a record of 2.40am on 6 November.

“Similar explosions were heard in the period following school home time - suggesting the involvement of children.

“Pet owners face distressed animals throughout this time of year and an expectation of a repeat through the Christmas and New Year holidays.”

Mr Hauxwell added: “I urge our representatives, both local and Parliamentary to unite across party lines to bring this unsafe and unnecessary practice to an end.”

Parliament will debate the petition on 26 November 2018.

You'll be able to watch online at parliamentlive.tv