Fireworks - getting the balance right.

Guy Fawkes Night is upon us again. For many, it’s an occasion of fun and festivity. But for the thousand or so people who need hospital treatment each year; for the people who suffer from the noise and upset when fireworks are let off in the street in the weeks leading up to November 5th; for the owners of pets and other animals terrified by thoughtless or irresponsible firework use it is more bonfire nightmare than bonfire night.

More than a few of those who have written to me on the subject of fireworks would like to see them banned outright: to do that, in my opinion would be to penalise the responsible majority for the actions of the few; but there is no gainsaying the distress and upset caused by people at this time of year who buy fireworks and let them off individually, sometimes maliciously and often late at night.

So can we do anything about these problems, without banning them altogether? Some changes in the way fireworks are sold have already happened. A voluntary code between Government and suppliers has restricted sales of fireworks to around November and for a few weeks in the New Year. The supply of a number of more distressing and dangerous fireworks has been banned except for professional displays.

Recently, though, a new Bill went through Parliament. The Fireworks Act 2003 arose from a private members bill. I supported it throughout its various stages in Parliament. It will allow the Government to make new regulations on setting noise limits for fireworks, licensing suppliers, and setting out rules for public displays. These changes will take time, but should be in place by next year. Some parts of the Act will come into force earlier – perhaps as soon as Christmas. These will include a curfew on the use of fireworks, the creation of a new offence of possessing fireworks under the age of eighteen and a full prohibition on the supply of ‘airbombs’.

The changes will, I think, be widely welcomed. I doubt that they will deal with every instance of irresponsible or antisocial firework bill, but they will go a long way towards striking the right balance between enjoying our fireworks on bonfire night, and maintaining the right of others not to be terrorised by them.

What do you think about this - email me and let me know