Stockport Labour’s amended a motion put forward at Thursday’s Stockport Full Council Meeting to take ‘A Sensible Approach to Firework Displays’.
Research shows fireworks can be distressful and harmful, particularly to animals, pregnant women, young people and disabled people. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) works tirelessly to promote awareness and enable improvement on this issue. However, local Councils have restrictions about what it can and cannot do under current legislation.
The Labour-led Stockport Council is committed to maximising its influence to make sure firework displays are safe for everyone and mitigate any harm and distress caused by fireworks, but in a sensible, effective and implementable way.
The amendment aims to provide better information to the public, be more robust in encouragement for retailers to adopt the Challenge 25 scheme, have better co-operation of awareness campaigns between various organisations and address the issues around noise levels and the licencing of firework and bonfire displays.
The amendment was put forward by Cllr Sheila Bailey, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport, as a response to the concerns raised by the RSPCA.
Here is the amendment in full:
A sensible approach to firework displays
This Council Meeting notes that the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) says the law is failing as it does not prevent or sufficiently reduce the risk of fireworks causing distress, injury or anxiety to people, as well as death, injury or distress to animals.
This Council Meeting believes that further research is needed to properly understand the effects on animals and people but, in the meantime, several things can be done to improve the situation for wildlife and people at risk, including:
- Review of the licensing of all public firework displays, ensuring public displays are better advertised, informing of noise levels and warning how it may affect people and animals.
- Applying the Challenge 25 scheme to the sale of fireworks, as widely used for the sale of Alcohol, to try to ensure that fewer young people purchase and are consequently injured by fireworks.
This Council meeting notes:
- The Council does not licence firework displays/bonfires.
- The Council does not organise any firework displays/bonfires
- Any organisation wanting to hold an event in a public park must apply for permission and the application would go to the relevant Area Committee – no licence is required.
- Displays organised privately are sometimes notified to the Council but not always. When notified the Council puts the information on its website.
- Challenge 25 does include fireworks and any age restricted product sold by retailers. The Council encourages retailers to adopt Challenger 25 and many do. However, it is voluntary.
- Firework Pop-up shops do not have to be licensed by the Council but registered with the Fire Service who will inspect the fireworks to be sold and their storage.
- There is a time restriction on the sale of fireworks from 15th October to 10th November and at other times to cater for religious festivals.
The Council wants to do all it can within its powers to mitigate the harm and distress caused but has restrictions under which it can do so, given current legislation. However, better information for the public, more robust encouragement to retailers to adopt Challenge 25 and more co-operation between the various organisations with regard to awareness campaigns is all possible as well as writing to the Government about restrictions on the noise levels of fireworks sold to the public and possible licensing.
This Council Meeting resolves to:
- Write to the UK Government urging them to introduce legislation to limit the maximum noise level of fireworks to 90dB for those sold to the public for private displays;
- Actively promote a public awareness campaign about the impact of fireworks on animal welfare and vulnerable people, including the precautions that can be taken to mitigate risks, such as purchasing quieter fireworks;
- ensure enable all public firework displays within Stockport borough are to be advertised in advance of the event, allowing residents to take precautions for people in their care and pets;
- encourage retailers of fireworks to separate ‘quieter’ fireworks from the louder ones so people can choose which ones they prefer, with animal and people safety in mind; and
- encourage retailers to apply the Challenge 25 scheme to the sale of fireworks in Stockport borough, so that those over 18 but who look under 25 have to show photo ID, as needed when they want to buy alcohol.
The Council will:
- Actively promote a public awareness campaign, in conjunction with the Police, Fire Service and animal charities, about the impact of fireworks on animal welfare and vulnerable people, including the precautions that can be taken to mitigate risks.
- Encourage residents to attend organised firework displays/bonfires within Stockport.
- Promote organised displays that it is made aware of through its website and social media.
- Continue to encourage retailers to apply the Challenge 25 scheme to the sale of fireworks in Stockport borough, so that those over 18 but who look under 25 have to show photo ID, as needed when they want to buy alcohol.
- Write to the Government urging them to introduce legislation to limit the maximum noise level of fireworks to 90dB for those sold to the public for private displays and also to consider the licensing of all firework displays/bonfire events.
Moved: Cllr Sheila Bailey
Second: Cllr Jude Wells
ENDS