‘Bang out of order’ – petition launched against late-night fireworks

By John Baron

More than 600 people have signed a West Leeds petition calling for ‘immediate and decisive action’ to crack down on late-night fireworks in known hotspots.

The petition, started by Pudsey councillors Simon and Dawn Seary (Cons), calls on Bradford Council, West Yorkshire Police and the Mayor of West Yorkshire to take action on the issue.

The petition reads: “The persistent issue of fireworks being set off at all hours – including after the usual 11pm legal curfew, along with excessive noise from high-performance vehicles – is severely disrupting the peace and quiet of our community. 

“This problem is not simply an inconvenience; it is a significant source of distress for families, elderly people, shift workers, children, pets and vulnerable residents.

“Despite existing regulations, enforcement efforts by the authorities have proven insufficient. Fireworks are regularly being set off late into the evening and into the early hours of the morning, while high-powered vehicles, and excessive engine revving, are creating a constant source of noise pollution.”

The petition calls for enforcement in known hotspot areas, using existing powers to deal swiftly with offenders and pressing for stronger legislation where current laws are inadequate.

The petition can be found here.

Supporters have added their thoughts to the petition.

One said: “We visit our family in Pudsey and Rodley. Our dog is petrified. We can’t sleep. It’s a nightmare. Especially for people with PTSD who have served in one of the services.”

Another added: “Fireworks are going from 9pm up until 2am. It wakes my 13-month-old daughter and frightens my dogs. Something has to change with the sale and use of fireworks.”

Last month it was revealed the Government has launched a public consultation into proposals to ban the loudest fireworks outside organised displays, following years of calls by veterans’ and animal rights’ groups.

The consultation includes proposals to restrict the availability of noisier fireworks to the general public, with louder products only available to professional users. 

Other proposals include adding products deemed to be carrying unacceptable risks to the list of existing banned pyrotechnics, and reviewing the regulations for fireworks currently classified as lower risk to better reflect the different levels of risk they pose. 

The government consultation can be read in full here.