Former firefighter Councillor Peter Malcolm calls for Rochdale Council to ban sale of fireworks to general public

Cllr Peter Malcolm, West Ward Heywood

Former firefighter Councillor Peter Malcolm is calling for Rochdale Borough Council to ban the sale of fireworks to the general public, saving them for licensed displays only.

The West Heywood ward councillor said: “The time must surely have come where our society must now, for the good of every member of the community, regulate the sale of these explosives directly to the public of whatever age.

“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.

“Add to that the scenes of animals in various states of distress, pictures of youths firing rockets at people or passing cars.”

Councillor Malcolm continued: “In Heywood, where I live, there are two great public firework events at Queens Park and Heywood Cricket Club and this must surely be the way forward of the future, large public events risk assessed and well managed in a controlled environment.

“I know many families will have small gatherings in their own gardens, which in the main pass off safely, but this year more than any other the comments made to me about misuse and sale of fireworks have significantly increased, to the point where I feel the overriding safety of the community outweighs the need to sell fireworks direct to the public.

“I will therefore be sending a letter to the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive officer asking that they consider imposing a ban on the sale of fireworks direct to the general public within Rochdale Borough Council area.

“The sale of fireworks would be to licensed organisations demonstrating they have a well organised, risk assessed event planned with safe lighting areas and safe exclusion areas for the public etc.

“The final detail would be for the authority to decide.”

Rochdale Borough Council has been contacted for comment.