Fireworks
are used by people throughout the year to mark different events. While they can
bring much enjoyment to some people, they can cause significant problems and
fear for other people and animals. They can be a source of fear and distress
for many animals (including pet animals, farm livestock and wildlife). Animals
affected not only suffer psychological distress but can also cause themselves
injuries – sometimes very serious ones – as they attempt to run away or hide
from the noise.
The
following are significant concerns:
· The
unpredictable, loud and high intensity noises that many fireworks make can
cause fear;
· Debris
produced by fireworks if found on the ground, can also post a hazard to
animals, such as horses and farm livestock
· The
short lived nature of firework noise can make it difficult for the police or
local authority officers to pinpoint locations and take action
· There
is a need to raise awareness amongst owners of animals about fireworks phobias.
Further research is needed to properly understand the impact of
noise on animals and a number of things can be done to improve the situation
for animals and people by:
·
Introducing a limit on the public use of
fireworks on or close to specific dates and times;
·
Tightening restrictions on the sale of fireworks
in the run up to Bonfire night ;
·
Reducing the maximum noise level of fireworks
sold to the public, ensuring they are labelled accurately;
·
Licensing all public firework displays – and
ensuring displays are better advertised to the public.
This
Council resolves:
·
to require all public firework displays held on local authority land
and/or which are subject to the consent of the Local Authority to be advertised
in advance of the event, allowing residents to take precautions for their
animals and vulnerable people
·
to 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
·
to write to the Welsh Government urging them to utilise any levers at
their disposal to mitigate any negative impacts on animals and vulnerable
people of the hosting of fireworks displays.
·
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
·
to encourage local suppliers of fireworks to stock ‘quieter’ fireworks
for public display.”
Minutes:
Members
of Council received a Notice of Motion under Section 10 of Part 4 (Rules of
Procedure) of the Council’s Constitution, concerning the use of fireworks. The
Motion was proposed by Councillor S.Paddison,
seconded by Councillor A.Llewelyn, and endorsed by
the Deputy Leader of the Independent Democrats Group.
RESOLVED: 1. That
all public firework displays held on local
authority land and/or which are subject to the
consent of the local
authority be advertised
in advance of the
event, allowing residents to
take precautions
for their animals and
vulnerable
people;
2. That the authority 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;
3. That the authority write to the Welsh
Government
urging them to utilise any
levers at their disposal to mitigate any negative impacts on animals and vulnerable people
of the hosting of fireworks displays;
4. That
the authority 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;
5. That the authority encourage local suppliers
of
fireworks to stock ‘quieter’ fireworks for public
display.