Councillors call for firework ban

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service member Councillor Colin Lambert has called again for a total ban on over the counter sales of fireworks.

After yet another attack on an innocent family, in the Heywood area, Councillor Lambert has called for the Government legislation to be reviewed immediately.

Councillor Lambert said: "I believe the time has arrived where today's fireworks are so powerful that in the wrong hands they are deadly.

"We can no longer leave it to the decision of the individual to behave responsibly and I believe there should be a register of sales in relation to all fireworks.

"All retailers should have to register all firework sales and no sale should be permitted without proof of identity and a record of the sale kept for inspection by the appropriate authority.

"Organised events for the fireworks celebration should include the banning of any other firework being brought to the event.

"It should be possible to trace the firework back to the point of sale and miss use should be prosecuted.

"Today's fireworks are mini explosives and should be treated as such legally."

Heywood and Middleton MP Jim Dobbin said: "I was shocked to hear of this incident in Heywood. When the Private Member's Bill was introduced two years ago it was my view that the sale of fireworks to the public should have been banned. At present any shop selling fireworks illegally can be closed by the police, and trading standards officers have powers already to deal with this. These powers definitely need to be strengthened, and sooner rather than later. The Government will have to take this on board."

Heywood Councillor Peter Rush added his voice to those wanting to see the banning of over the counter sale of fireworks in the Borough. 

Councillor Rush said: “The misuse of fireworks is something that this Council takes very seriously and I would like to thank the many retailers in Heywood who signed up to the Council’s Good Guy Scheme – a scheme that was hugely successful this year.  We are currently waiting for a multi-agency review of the problems this year.  This will include a look at the effectiveness of the Fireworks Act 2003, the current Government position is that they will not consider banning the over the counter sales until they look at how this act is helping.  I am also concerned that at least one shop in Heywood has opened just to sell fireworks – this I’m afraid is unacceptable.  Their greed offers absolutely nothing to Heywood and this practice should be outlawed.”

Council Leader Alan Taylor said: “This Council is not in the habit of dropping an issue when the problems die down.  This will be a subject that is on the agenda of the next meeting with our Borough’s MPs.  Over the next year we will look at how as a Council we can continue to work with the Trading Standards and the Fire and Police Authorities to continue our hard work to protect the residents of this Borough from the anti-social use of fireworks.  It is hoped that once the Government realise the limitations of the Fireworks Act they will take on board our request to be a pilot area for the comprehensive banning of over the counter sale of fireworks.  The battle to protect residents during Bonfire Night 2007 starts now!”