A series of measures have been approved to limit firework displays in Herefordshire – particularly the noisy ones.
Today’s (January 28) full meeting of Herefordshire councillors approved the motion by Councillor William Wilding, who said: “I’m not trying to stop people having fun, just to control the noise.”
Organisers of fireworks displays in the county will now be encouraged to use “low-noise” fireworks, and to give at least two months’ advance warning of displays.
The council also backed a public awareness campaign on the impact of fireworks on animal welfare and vulnerable people, and agreed to lobby the government to limit the decibel level of fireworks sold nationally.
And it will ask officers to look into bringing in system of consent for fireworks displays on council-owned land.
Coun Peter Jinman, a former president of the British Veterinary Association, said the moves will “markedly reduce” the risk to animals, as low-noise fireworks are “no louder than normal household noise”.
“My profession spends considerable time each year dealing with the stress that fireworks cause,” he said. “I don’t want to take away people’s pleasure, but it’s an important welfare issue.”
But Coun Tony Johnson claimed that campaigners had overstated the harm fireworks cause animals, saying: “There is no evidence to justify this change.”
Also opposing, Coun Paul Rone said he would not want to prevent large organised events, which discourage “backyard displays put on by men with a can in one hand and a firework in the other”.
Coun Kath Hey said she did not want to stop such events either, and queried how widely available low-noise fireworks are.
To this, Coun Kevin Tillett said: “Hereford Sainsbury’s only sold low-noise fireworks last year, and I hope the city’s other retailers will do the same.”
Coun Liz Harvey said local social media posts demonstrate “the upset that fireworks cause, not just on Bonfire Night, but now throughout the year”, while Coun Philip Howells said such displays “seem to get louder and louder”.
But Coun Mark Millmore questioned how such rules could be policed, adding: “Our dog loves fireworks, but he is a bit daft.”
The motion was carried, with seven councillors voted against and three abstaining.
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