Lib Dem led Chelmsford City Council calls for fireworks review

A review of fireworks safety and more controls around their sale and use has been backed by Chelmsford City Council. This would protect wild, domestic and farm animals, the natural environment and people adversely affected by their misuse.

The full council meeting on 22nd January passed (with cross-party support) a motion lobbying the Government. Backing the motion, Lib Dem Cllr. Martin Bracken said, "The City Council is working towards a safer Chelmsford and believes that Government policy on the sale and use of fireworks must be reviewed as a matter of urgency."

Fireworks motion - Chelmsford City Council resolves to:

• Encourage all publicly organised firework displays within the Chelmsford City Council area to be advertised in advance of the event, so that residents can enjoy the celebrations and allow residents to take precautions for their animals and vulnerable people.
• 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.
• Encourage retailers to follow the lead of Sainsburys in withdrawing the sale of fireworks to the public
• 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 display.
• Encourage trading standards to enforce more rigorously the regulations of the selling of fireworks both in terms of age-appropriateness, licensing and CE markings.
• Noting that CCC already ban the release of sky lanterns from council land, to write to the UK Government urging them to consider banning sky lanterns in the UK in total.