Council calls for tighter fireworks rules to protect people and animals
NEW Forest District Council has unanimously agreed to lobby local MPs to push for stricter rules on fireworks.
The authority will also urge organisers of public displays to give advance warning, and run an awareness campaign about the impact of loud bangs and flashes on animals and people.
The actions were voted through at a full meeting of NFDC after the issue of fireworks was first raised last year by Marchwood Cllr Alison Hoare, the cabinet member for environment and regulatory services.
Her motion was discussed in January by councillors on the environment overview and scrutiny panel who came back with a set of agreed recommendations on Monday night.
It said: “We live in a unique part of the world and as such we have unique problems and challenges when trying to protect not just our wildlife and pets but the ponies, cattle and pigs who freely roam the Forest.
“Fireworks can cause many problems for animals, not just from the noise but from the debris of spent rockets which land within the Forest, countryside and gardens which can cause severe distress or even death if eaten.
“Within the NFDC area there are also many people for whom fireworks are a source of distress, for example, the elderly, ex-service men and women and those who are vulnerable to mental or physical challenges.”
As well as lobbying MPs and the government, it included a call for NFDC to work on the issue with local bodies including the police and fire service, Forestry England, the national park authority and Hampshire County Council.
However, they weakened Cllr Hoare’s original call to “require” forewarning of firework displays to “request”.
Cllr Hoare said after the meeting she was “okay” about her motion having been watered down, adding: “What I do not want to do is ban them.”
She said: “I do not want to spoil anyone’s fun but the wildlife in the New Forest are people’s livestock.”
What do you think? Write to the Advertiser and Times via letters@adt.press.
